The Flea Theater, founded in 1996, is a theatre in the TriBeCa section of New York City. It presents primarily new American theatre, and provides a venue for film stars to act on a very small (74-seat) stage. It is the home of "The Bat Theater Company", an Obie Award winning resident acting troupe of primarily young actors that presents new and classical works. The theater was founded by distinguished downtown theater artists: director Jim Simpson, playwright Mac Wellman, and designer Kyle Chepulis. Known primarily for original productions of post-9-11 play "The Guys" and political works by A. R. Gurney.
The Flea Theater, under Artistic Director Jim Simpson and Producing Director Carol Ostrow, is one of New York’s leading off-off-Broadway companies. Founded in 1996, the award-winning Flea Theater was originally formed out of the purely artistic impulse to create “a joyful hell in a small space”.
Since its inception in 1996, The Flea has presented over 90 plays and numerous dance and live music performances. Highlights include Anne Nelson’s The Guys, A.R. Gurney’s Mrs. Farnsworth (New York Times Best Play List 2004), Will Eno’s Oh, The Humanity..., Elizabeth Swados’ JABU and Kaspar Hauser, the Obie award winning Benten Kozo, as well as premieres of playwrights Mac Wellman, Adam Rapp, Thomas Bradshaw, Itamar Moses, and performance artists Mabou Mines, Karen Finley and LAVA, among many others.
Famous quotes containing the words flea and/or theater:
“This flea is you and I, and this
Our mariage bed, and mariage temple is;
Though parents grudge, and you, w’are met,
And cloystered in these living walls of Jet.”
—John Donne (1572–1631)
“This ... is an age of specialization, and in such an age the repertory theater is an anachronism, a ludicrous anachronism.”
—Minnie Maddern Fiske (1865–1932)