Manhattan rehearsal studio Open Jar Studios is expanding, adding a second location at the nearby Paramount Building that will increase its available rehearsal and audition space by 40,000 square feet. The expansion will occupy the third floor of the building, located at 1501 Broadway. Of the 17 new spaces, most have footprints of around 1,600 square feet. The studio also offers support offices, backline, and other amenities. The new space is expected to open in early 2027.

“This expansion comes at the perfect time as we have seen a major increase in creative development and the need for greater capacity,” says Open Jar founder Jeff Whiting in a statement. “We are thrilled to be able to continue our mission to support the creation of art and the development of artists with this much-needed space right in the heart of Times Square.”

“Open Jar Studios is a natural fit for The Paramount Building, particularly as we celebrate the property’s 100th anniversary,” adds Rosemark Management’s Charles L. Rosenberg and Levin Management Corporation CEO Matthew K. Harding. Rosemark Management and LMC serve as owner representatives for The Paramount Building. “The building has a remarkable history in entertainment, and Open Jar’s commitment represents an exciting continuation of that legacy while further strengthening 1501 Broadway as a destination for New York’s Broadway and creative communities.”

Whiting launched Open Jar in 2019 with a 50,000 square-foot space at 1601 Broadway, becoming NYC’s largest studio complex. The new space, located at 43rd and Broadway, will establish Open Jar rehearsal studios at both ends of the Times Square Theatre District. Shows that have rehearsed and developed at Open Jar include Moulin Rouge!, The Outsiders, The Lost Boys, and Maybe Happy Ending. 

The project is owned by a conglomeration of Broadway industry leaders, including The Shubert Organization; National Artists Management Company; producers Jeffrey Seller (Hamilton), Kumiko Yoshii (MJ), and Barry Weissler (Chicago); director-choreographer Susan Stroman (The Producers); scenic designer Beowulf Boriff (New York, New York); writers Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime); director Schele Williams (The Wiz); lighting designer Ken Billington (Chicago); and Whiting.

Visit OpenJarStudios.com.