Destinations / New York City / Top Things to Do in New York City for Theater Lovers in Long Island City
Top Things to Do in New York City for Theater Lovers in Long Island City
1. LaGuardia Performing Arts Center (LPAC)
Anchored inside LaGuardia Community College, LPAC is LIC’s largest professional performance complex, staging bold new plays, dance, and global storytelling on multiple stages.
✓ Why Go:
You’ll find premiere productions and international artists without Midtown prices, plus a proscenium mainstage, an intimate black box, and frequent community-forward programming.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Evenings during the academic year (September–May) when seasons are in full swing; occasional festivals pop up in fall and spring.
✓ Insider Tip:
Check the lineup for workshop showings or pay-what-you-can events—great value and often followed by talkbacks with cast and creatives.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Audiences praise the professional caliber, easy subway access, and the chance to see adventurous work up close.
2. Culture Lab LIC
A sprawling nonprofit arts hub in a converted warehouse with a theater, galleries, classrooms, and a beloved outdoor stage that ignites LIC’s performance scene.
✓ Why Go:
From new plays and improv to festivals and concerts, it’s a community heartbeat where theater-makers test fresh work and neighbors gather under the skyline.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Late spring through early fall for outdoor shows; year-round for black-box theater and gallery programs.
✓ Insider Tip:
Arrive early for outdoor events to snag a front-row picnic spot; inside, join the mailing list for pop-up readings and limited-run plays.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Locals love the relaxed, come-as-you-are vibe and the mix of emerging and established voices.
3. Chocolate Factory Theater
An Obie-winning incubator for experimental performance where boundary-pushing dance-theater, devised work, and immersive pieces take center stage.
✓ Why Go:
If you crave cutting-edge performance and intimate encounters with artists, this LIC landmark consistently delivers daring, conversation-starting shows.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Seasonal runs throughout the year; check for premieres clustered in fall and spring.
✓ Insider Tip:
Be open to non-traditional staging—sightlines and seating can shift with each production to serve the piece.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Fans rave about fearless programming and the feeling of discovering tomorrow’s big ideas today.
4. Green Space (Valerie Green/Dance Entropy)
A performance studio and creative lab where LIC’s dance-theater community premieres new work through curated series like Take Root and Fertile Ground.
✓ Why Go:
It’s an intimate window into movement-driven storytelling—ideal for theater lovers who appreciate physical narrative and choreographic experimentation.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Monthly showcases year-round; spring and fall often feature dense calendars.
✓ Insider Tip:
Seats are limited—reserve ahead. Post-show mingling with artists is common, so stick around to chat.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Audiences highlight the welcoming atmosphere, affordability, and strong support for emerging artists.
5. Flux Factory
An artist-run residency and gallery that frequently hosts performance art, experimental readings, and cross-disciplinary happenings.
✓ Why Go:
You’ll catch hybrid performance that blurs theater, visual art, and sound—perfect for adventurous audiences seeking fresh forms.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Openings and special events pop up all year; weekends are your best bet for public programs.
✓ Insider Tip:
Many events are free or donation-based—bring cash for the tip jar and check schedules for one-night-only performances.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Regulars celebrate the DIY spirit, inclusive community, and delightfully unpredictable programming.
6. MoMA PS1 (Performance & Live Programs)
While known for contemporary art, PS1 also stages live programs, performance art, and interdisciplinary events that attract theater-savvy crowds.
✓ Why Go:
Its avant-garde commissions and artist talks often veer theatrical, offering narrative, movement, and sound pieces in unexpected museum spaces.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Weekends for special programs; summer often brings courtyard happenings.
✓ Insider Tip:
Explore the courtyard between sets; arrive early—popular programs can reach capacity.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Visitors value the high-art meets live-performance blend and the museum’s willingness to experiment.
7. SculptureCenter (Performance & Artist Projects)
A cutting-edge museum for contemporary sculpture that periodically features performance-based projects, readings, and time-based works.
✓ Why Go:
Theater lovers curious about performative installation and durational pieces will find smart, thought-provoking programs here.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Check seasonal exhibitions; performance activations often occur at openings or select evenings.
✓ Insider Tip:
Join member previews for quieter access and occasional first-look performances tied to exhibitions.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Guests appreciate the intimate scale and rigor of artist-driven events.
8. New York Irish Center
A cultural home for Irish arts presenting music, storytelling, readings, and occasional theater—always with an intimate, convivial feel.
✓ Why Go:
Catch trad sessions, staged readings, and literary salons that spotlight the island’s deep dramatic tradition steps from the 7 train.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Evenings and weekends; look for special series in fall and around St. Patrick’s season.
✓ Insider Tip:
Many events sell out—book ahead and come early for a cup of tea or a pint before curtain.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Audiences describe it as a warm neighborhood gem with top-tier artists and zero pretense.
9. Gantry Plaza State Park (Shakespeare & Performing Arts)
LIC’s waterfront lawns transform into an open-air stage for free summer Shakespeare and dance, with sunset views of Manhattan as the backdrop.
✓ Why Go:
It’s classic New York: blankets, picnic snacks, and live performance—often Shakespeare—right on the East River.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Summer evenings during seasonal series and touring productions.
✓ Insider Tip:
Bring a low chair or blanket and arrive early to claim a prime sightline; layers help when the river breeze kicks up.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Crowds love the festive, family-friendly atmosphere and the unbeatable skyline setting.
10. The Foundry
A dramatic 19th-century industrial landmark turned event venue that periodically hosts site-specific performances, galas, and arts-forward happenings.
✓ Why Go:
For theater lovers, the soaring brick arches, greenhouse, and courtyard create cinematic settings for immersive and special-event performances.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Evenings; programming is occasional, so monitor calendars for one-off performances and benefits.
✓ Insider Tip:
If you see a performance listed here, don’t hesitate—tickets are limited and the architecture becomes part of the show.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Visitors are wowed by the atmospheric space and how productions creatively use every corner.
