HERE Arts is a great space to see live shows. I had the absolute joy of seeing Karkoid the Automaton, a new musical by Taylor Hays performed by the Epic Players. Everything was so thoughtfully done and expertly executed. From the costumes to the orchestrations and corresponding illustrations being projected throughout the show, to the incredible signers, singers snd band 10/10. I loved every single second. I was so impressed the the performances and the multidisciplinary experience- I can't wait to see the next iteration. read more

HERE - "Karkoid the Automaton", a new musical by Taylor Hays performed by the Epic Players. Tuesday, December 9, 2025. - Performing Arts Near Me - New York, New York

So very good. Two characters rose to nightclub excellence to tell Christine's story. Set in the 1950's after GI changed to be a woman. Play tells of how she was always her family's daughter Now she is the lady who sings and dances and successfully lets her NOW life shine. read more

I saw a series of short plays here while my partner went to Wicked! Quality: 5 Value: 5 Service: n/a Ambience: 4 This is a great little theater that has a cozy lobby with wine / coffee / cookies before and after shows. This is an important community of off-off-Broadway that helps keep the pipeline of actors alive. Good acting, good stage, good acoustics/audio, and a modern black box theater setup - a good time. Go if you have a chance. read more

I have a whole list of things I want to do before I leave NYC for good, and seeing an off-off-Broadway show was one of them. I ended up coming to HERE to watch Medicine The Musical. It's definitely a completely different experience watching a show here versus a normal big Broadway house. The shows are more experimental and the runs are short. So you feel like you're part of something special. There are two stages here. The main stage seats 99 guests while the Dorothy B. Williams Theatre downstairs seas 63. It's such a more intimate place to watch a show. The whole experience is very casual. The "box office" is just the desk next to the door you enter. There's a coffee and wine bar in the lobby, however it was not open the night I was there. There are bathrooms downstairs and there's never really a line since there aren't that many people attending each show. As for the main stage itself, the view is excellent. The farthest seat is six rows away from the stage. The first row is even to the stage itself. The only thing to watch out for is there is a big column in the middle of stage left which does obstruct the view of some seats. If you're in the area around that column, expect to have some blind spots during the show. It's not a big deal, but for me, it happened to be right where one of the main characters often stood to deliver lines. A big plus is that drinks are allowed inside the theater. They allow outside drinks too. So you can bring in a drink from Starbucks or whatever. Entrance is off Dominick Street, not 6th Avenue. read more

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This space is gorgeous & the show I saw here was wonderful. If you were looking for a place where community exists, it seems this is it. I overheard a lot of writers talking to one another & it seemed like a lot of people knew each other. I didn't get anything in the cafe & would have liked to see a larger menu with lower prices but the decor more than made up for it. I would definitely consider seeing more plays & going to art exhibits here. read more

I came here recently for a reading by 2g. Like a lot of studios and performance spaces that I've gone to readings to this place felt very 'amateur' like. But that's part of the allure of attending off-Broadway productions and readings. I did like the fact that you can bring your drink in from the cafe attached to the arts center. Sipping on your wine while enjoying a play? How very appropriate. read more

I really dig this spot. I've been here for two shows, both Hanne Tierny's productions, and have really loved the use of light and puppetry. The space itself is pretty bare, but I like that, as it gives the space a lot of character. It makes you feel like you're experiencing a very pure form of theater. I also love the cafe in the front. It's a great spot to come even if you're not there for a show. At the same time, it is a perfect space to wait before the doors open. read more

With their renovations completed, HERE's square footage may be reduced, but their use of they've got left is stunning. I catch a show hear at least two or three times a year, sometimes more often, so I've been pretty familiar with it's evolution. The new cafe is very cozy and I enjoyed a delicious slice of ricotta cheesecake there (but, on a different visit, barely tolerated a chewy croissant). My bf did fine with the house wine. The theatres themselves are pretty much the same (they've just gotten new paint jobs), but it doesn't feel nearly as chaotic getting to them as it did in the past. And it's silly, but I like the colorful panes of glass on the exterior. SHOWS I'VE ENJOYED: Soul Samurai, Songs of the Dragons Flying to Heaven, Anna Bella Eema, the annual Queer @ HERE Festival, The Ladies of... read more

Having just had another less than stellar experience at Joe's Pub, it was awesome to experience Erik Sanko's puppet show the Fortune Teller here tonight. This is my kind of art space! Located not far from the approach to the Holland Tunnel, the art space is in a border zone. The neighborhood isn't near-industrial, but it's clear that you're in a realm of edges: the entrance to the tunnel, commercial parking lots, and -- at night -- streets without much pedestrian traffic. Even though the address is 145 Avenue of the Americas, the current entrance is on a side street of sorts -- just look for the small sign that says Here. Inside, you can get your tickets, order a drink, lounge in the assorted seats and couches, and peruse the promotional materials for other upcoming events. They're raising money to renovate the space, so the layout is sure to change at some point, but it appears that there are two performance areas: the main stage upstairs and a smaller theater downstairs. The bathrooms are also downstairs, and the directional red line traced on the ground will basically lead you from the lobby area to the smaller theater, as well. I haven't been in the main stage area, but the theater in which the Fortune Teller was staged was excellent. The kinds of performances Here selects are wonderful examples of new performance art, theater, and multimedia work. Their attention to set, lighting, and sound design is obvious. And the seats seem to be old lecture hall or theater seats. Each seat sports a small desk surface that flips up and over, as well as what might be old ashtrays set into the seat backs. At Joe's Pub, I feel like I'm getting ripped off. At Here, I feel like I'm helping artists bring important work to life. It's not a difference between the kinds of artists who perform at either locale. It's a difference between how the space and support feels. Here feels good. read more

What a great space! I came here to see The Nightlands, which was amazing! I loved the little cafe outside the theatre. I'm not sure how long this place has been a performance space, but everything looked modern and up to date for a downtown theatre production. I would most definitely go back! read more

I've been blessed to be invited to watch the play "Macbeth" at HERE. Thanks to my friend who loves Shakespeare. When I don't understand she can explain, since she's the fan. More than once is still excellent! I enjoyed the play so much. The theater is very convenient to the blue line A,C,E. It's a small theater so it doesn't provide a lot of supplies full drinks and snacks for the audience but good enough to accommodate everyone. It's a beautiful small theater with colorful windows, now this I like! It's more like a come-and-go type of place, no need to waste time during intermission, because there is none. Small theaters don't always have good ventilations. It has some strange smell in the theater but I wasn't sure what was it. Maybe from the props? Maybe a one time thing. Macbeth was fantastic. The show was slightly over an hour. The performance by Lisa Wolpe as Macbeth would surprise you. If my friend didn't tell me, I would have not guessed that Macbeth's a woman. That's how great the performance was. Directed by both Natsuko Ohama and Lisa Wolpe, this dramatic play is a must-see. I don't mind coming back to the theater to see more plays. Sometimes watching a play at a small theater is fun, so you're able to focus at a scene one thing at a time. Looking at all the props can get you out of focus. So, focus and enjoy the show! read more

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What an excellent venue!! The seats are comfy, the sound and tech support to the performer is excellent. Very nice staffers at the hub/box office. The cafe service was wonderful and I thoroughly enjoyed my cappuccino and my sweet treat. I liked that the cafe had cascading doors that opened into the cool night air. It was nice sitting, sipping and taking in the sights and sounds of passersby. We attended the DUTF, Down Under Theater Festival and caught a play written and performed by Helena D. Lewis called "Shenanigans". This Nyorican/Def Poetry Slam Winner Poet wrote a play before called, "Call me Crazy" about reclaiming her sanity in a dysfunctional social services agency and Shenanigans, similarly is the story of her resilience after the loss of her beloved mother which kicked up family chaos and "shenanigans". She was brilliant, poignant and funny in all the places we needed comic relief. The dark and simple staging was a perfect context for her multimedia performance, which included the voice of a family pet, Smokey. There was a talk back with the playwrite/performer and the director/producer Leslie "ButtaflySoul" Taylor with the DUTF Artistic Director, the incomparable reg e gaines-- What a bonus and treat that was!!! I look forward to the next theatrical performance at this venue. All my expectations were exceeded. I hope others check out the DUTF and this performer. read more

I am writing this review solely on the basis that this venue presented two plays by the amazing Taylor Mac in repertory this summer. I saw both shows this past week while visiting NY, and I was very impressed by everything about the place. Of course the highlights of the two nights I spent at Here were the performances by Taylor in 'The Be(a)st of Taylor Mac' and his tour de force in 'The Ladies of...' Fabulous fabulous theater experiences both of them. Anyone who considers him or herself a critical thinker when it comes to US politics and gender issues, or anyone who just loves a great freak-ass drag show had better make sure to have seen Taylor Mac before dying. This man is going down in history. Literally, because the night I was there to see 'The Ladies of...' some kind of historical theater archive project from Lincoln Center had a camera person there to film the show for posterity. I'd never heard of the archive, but it certainly sounded like a great honor. So the mere fact that this center chose to devote an entire month of its schedule to the genius that is Taylor Mac earns them major points in my book. Not to mention that in the downstairs space they were featuring Joey Arias and Basil Twist's collaboration show (I didn't get time to see it, but sounds great). Clearly a theater that is interested in presenting unique performance experiences for audiences. Bravo! The cherry on the drag queen's, well, wherever she wants it, is that everyone working at Here couldn't have been more gracious, helpful, friendly, and fun. They have a really quaint little bar next to the ticket box, and they serve drinks and snacks at the bar and several small tables with a wall of windows that opens completely, making it feel like a really great little sidewalk cafe, and there were quite a few people who were not going to shows just enjoying the space, drinks, food. There's not much else right there on Spring St. so it feels very special. The design (recently renovated) feels just right with multicolored square window panels to the street and seats in the cool black box theater space that are as comfortable as they are utilitarian. Someone clearly thinks about all the details at this place, and the staff seem to be working happily because of that thinking. If I lived here, Here would be a place I would really want to be sure I supported regularly. I was tempted to just give a 4-star review, since I'm basing this on one week and I don't really know all that much about this venue, but as I wrote this, I realized I can't not give Here 5 stars. They were a big part of making this trip to NY a special one. read more

I love what I've seen so far (Songs of the Dragons Flying to the Heavens, and Fortune Teller). The title for the first play was clever because I think some people actually walked in thinking that it was going to be a stereotypical Asian play. It was the exact opposite. Fortune Teller was just amazing. read more

I've been to 2 performances at this venue so far and absolutely loved it. The venue is great and the atmosphere is really intimate. I liked that they have a cute cafe inside...great for a glass of wine and chilling before the performance. See you soon, Here! :) read more

This is a great place to find cutting edge theater. As Here rents out their theater space to outside productions, not everything there will be amazing, but most of it is pretty fantastic/innovative theater. The cafe next door (Herb and Peach I believe) is a cute addition and nice way to grab a glass of wine while you wait for a show to start (the prices are a bit high, but that is to be expected.) read more

i make my annual visit here when I am working with the Village Halloween Parade and this is the check-in station. Whatever the reason may be, their cappuccino is awesome. I don't know if its there always or not, but the foam art can be customized for your drink, which truly is out of this world...! read more

We recently presented a play in the HERE Sublet Series. The rental price was reasonable and the staff of the theater could not have been more supportive. It felt like the answer to every question was either "Yes" or "We will take care of that right away." Our show was very technically complex and HERE had the gear we needed to pull it off. I would ask for an obscure piece of hardware and they would point to the shelf that had a selection of those things. It was a joy to work there and we are planning to be back soon. read more

Horrible experience at Here. Staff was unhelpful and it was a poor performance space.

I recently saw At The Table here. The cast was absolutely amazing. This show easily ranks among the best shows I've ever seen including Broadway. read more

Here Arts Center is one of the best theaters in the city! The theater space is small and intimate. As a result, every seat has an excellent view of the stage. There is usually an eclectic scene in the lounge, where beer, wine, and tapas are served. It is a pleasant surprise when a theater has quality, gourmet fare and something other than boxed wine at the concession stand! I was extremely impressed with a recent show I saw at Here, Soul Samurai. Lastly, ticket prices are very reasonable-You and a date can see a show for around $50!! read more

Fantastic place to see cutting edge theatre in an intimate setting. Bold and ballsy, fearless. Was able to see Taylor Mac's show this winter, and I feel very lucky indeed. Kudos to Kristin Marting for supporting the artists. read more