For almost four decades, Symphony Space has defied easy categorization, carving out an identity all of its own — yet one that also embodies the spirit of the surrounding Upper West Side. Dubbed “a cultural town square” by founder and longtime Artistic Director Isaiah Sheffer, Symphony Space has always been a gathering place for artists and audiences, a place that embraces a glorious multiplicity of cultural activities. At no other theatre in town is one likely to encounter back-to-back performances ranging from James Joyce to world music, from children’s theatre to Selected Shorts, the literary series for which the theatre is widely known.

This exhibition celebrates this beloved New York institution, as it also marks the 100th birthday of the building that has housed Symphony Space since its founding in 1978. The exhibition will explore the early years of the building — as a food market (1915-1917), an ice skating rink (1917-1918), and later as the legendary Symphony and Thalia movie theatres (1918-1978) — as well as trace the extraordinary success of Symphony Space, from its first Wall to Wall Bach in 1978 to the prominent institution it is today.

Symphony Space: A Cultural Town Square is part of Project Fifteen, a two-week season-opening celebration at Symphony Space that features music, film, literature, talks, and more. The exhibition is located in the Plaza Corridor Gallery.

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