BAM Harvey Theater

BAM Harvey Theater

The Harvey Theater is a performing arts venue in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, administered by the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Located within the BAM cultural campus near Prospect Park and adjacent to BAM Peter Jay Sharp Building, the theater occupies a historic early 20th‑century house that transitioned from vaudeville and cinema to contemporary dance, experimental theater, and film presentation. The venue is a focal point for collaborations among institutions such as New York City Ballet, The Wooster Group, Merce Cunningham Trust, and international ensembles appearing in the Next Wave Festival.

History

The building opened in 1904 as the Majestic Theatre, designed during a boom that included other houses like Ziegfeld Theatre (1913) and contemporaneous theaters in Times Square. Through the silent era and the rise of talking pictures the house operated under names reflecting chains such as Loew's Incorporated and later repertory cinema programmers that linked it to the revival cultures of Film Forum and Museum of Modern Art screenings. In the late 20th century, as downtown and Brooklyn cultural geographies shifted with institutions like The Kitchen and PS122 (Performance Space New York), BAM acquired and renovated the space to anchor its Brooklyn programming. The refurbishment—part of a larger campus redevelopment involving stakeholders including New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and private donors—reopened the theater under the Harvey name, honoring philanthropic ties that echo benefactions to venues such as Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall.

Architecture and Facilities

The original auditorium, attributed to architect Thomas W. Lamb, exhibits features shared with contemporaneous houses like ornate plasterwork, a proscenium arch, and balcony sightlines akin to Apollo Theater (Harlem). Renovation work for BAM introduced contemporary technical systems comparable to upgrades at Royal Opera House and Sydney Opera House refurbishments, installing rigging, theatrical lighting by makers used by Metropolitan Opera, and acoustical treatments reflecting practices at Barbican Centre. The space seats approximately 800–900 patrons in flexible stadium and flat-floor configurations, enabling conversions for dance, theater, and film. Backstage support includes fly tower modifications, rehearsal rooms, and load-in access coordinated with BAM’s production offices and shared workshop resources like scenic shops similar to those at Public Theater and Roundabout Theatre Company.

Programming and Performances

Programming at the theater reflects BAM’s interdisciplinary mission, foregrounding contemporary dance, avant-garde theater, international film series, and music residencies. The Harvey hosts presentations associated with festivals and producers such as the Next Wave Festival, collaborations with companies like Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and curated seasons that mirror partnerships seen between Lincoln Center Festival and independent curators. Film retrospectives have showcased restorations by institutions like British Film Institute and distribution houses affiliated with Criterion Collection. The venue also accommodates site-specific work, hybrid performance, and emerging-company runs comparable to programming at Walker Art Center and Hebbel am Ufer.

Notable Productions and Artists

Over the decades the theater has presented productions and artists whose careers intersect with major institutions and companies. Dance companies such as Merce Cunningham Dance Company and choreographers associated with Martha Graham and Pina Bausch repertoires have appeared. Theater artists and ensembles including The Wooster Group, directors with ties to Steppenwolf Theatre Company, and playwrights represented by Roundabout Theatre Company have used the space for premieres and revivals. Musicians with connections to Nonesuch Records and experimental labels have performed curated concerts; filmmakers whose retrospectives intersect with Museum of Modern Art and Sundance Film Festival have screened film restorations. The Harvey has also housed work by international theater-makers who tour through presenters such as Theatre de la Ville and Festival d'Avignon.

Community Engagement and Education

Community and educational initiatives at the space align with BAM’s wider programs offering workshops, school partnerships, and artist residencies similar to outreach models at Lincoln Center Education and Carnegie Hall Education. Local partnerships with neighborhood organizations, for-profits, and non-profits—akin to collaborations among Brooklyn Public Library and arts collectives—support ticketing access, discounted series, and participatory projects. The theater’s residency platforms have provided technical internships and apprenticeship opportunities modeled after programs at Shakespeare Theatre Company and Alley Theatre, while artist-led masterclasses connect visiting practitioners with students from Brooklyn College and conservatories with ties to Juilliard School. Initiatives emphasize equitable access and cross-institutional exchange among museums, universities, and independent presenters including Scandinavia House and regional art centers.

Category:Theatres in Brooklyn Category:Performance spaces in New York City