Atlantic Theater Company

The Atlantic Theater Company is an Off-Broadway non-profit theater company based in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. Founded in 1985 by playwright David Mamet, actor William H. Macy, and a group of acting students, the company is dedicated to producing innovative works by emerging and established playwrights. Atlantic emphasizes a distinctive acting technique known as Practical Aesthetics and operates both a professional theater and an affiliated acting school. There is the 199-seat mainstage Linda Gross Theater, which is located at 336 West 20th Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenues, in the parish hall of St. Peter's Episcopal Church, built in 1854 and renovated in 2012. Additionally, the 99-seat black-box theater, Stage 2, is located at 330 West 16th Street, also between Eighth and Ninth Avenues, in the former Port Authority building. Stage 2, which opened in June 2006, is the home of Atlantic’s development program for new plays, which encompasses the commissioning of new works, readings, workshops, and fully staged productions.

Impact on the Theater Industry

Since its founding in 1985, the Atlantic Theater Company has played a significant role in shaping contemporary American theater. Its commitment to producing bold, original works has influenced Off-Broadway and regional theater movements. By emphasizing ensemble-driven productions and fostering new playwrights, Atlantic has helped launch the careers of numerous actors, directors, and writers, strengthening the pipeline between experimental theater and mainstream success.