Manhattan rehearsal studio Open Jar Studios is expanding, adding a second location at the nearby Paramount Building that will increase its\u00a0available 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis expansion comes at the perfect time as we have seen a major increase in creative development and the need for greater capacity,\u201d says Open Jar founder\u00a0Jeff Whiting<\/a> in a statement. \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOpen Jar Studios is a natural fit for The Paramount Building, particularly as we celebrate the property\u2019s 100th anniversary,\u201d adds\u00a0Rosemark Management’s Charles L. Rosenberg and Levin Management Corporation CEO\u00a0Matthew K. Harding. Rosemark Management and LMC serve as owner representatives for The Paramount Building. \u201cThe building has a remarkable history in entertainment, and Open Jar\u2019s commitment represents an exciting continuation of that legacy while further strengthening 1501 Broadway as a destination for New York\u2019s Broadway and creative communities.”<\/p>\n Whiting launched Open Jar in\u00a02019 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\u00a0Moulin Rouge!,\u00a0The Outsiders<\/a>,\u00a0The Lost Boys<\/a>,\u00a0and\u00a0Maybe Happy Ending<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n The project is owned by a conglomeration of Broadway industry leaders, including\u00a0The Shubert Organization<\/a>;\u00a0National Artists Management Company<\/a>;\u00a0producers\u00a0Jeffrey Seller<\/a> (Hamilton<\/a>), Kumiko Yoshii<\/a> (MJ), and\u00a0Barry Weissler<\/a> (Chicago<\/a>); director-choreographer\u00a0Susan Stroman<\/a> (The Producers<\/a>); scenic designer\u00a0Beowulf Boriff (New York, New York<\/a>);\u00a0writers Lynn Ahrens<\/a> and Stephen Flaherty<\/a> (Ragtime<\/a>); director\u00a0Schele Williams<\/a> (The Wiz<\/a>); lighting designer\u00a0Ken Billington<\/a> (Chicago); and\u00a0Whiting.<\/p>\n