Why "The Storm"?

"Now is a time to storm; why art thou still?"

- Titus Andronicus, III, i, l.264

Storms are variously identified with disturbances of the natural atmosphere as well as the landscape of the soul. They can encompass explosions of both an electrical or a passionate nature and have been represented as assaults, sometimes violent, upon fortified citadels or secret, internal retreats.

A group of like-minded individuals shared a desire to establish a theatre company that would create a meaningful impact on the lives of the people who came to its productions. The "Storm" struck them as an ideal image of what their efforts might accomplish. A storm grows from elemental forces and, inevitably, explodes one reality in to another; it is a journey through catharsis to regeneration. Just as the Globe and The Rose portrayed the breadth and complexity of the lives Shakespeare uncovered on those stages, so The Storm was an apt choice to reflect the theatre experiences they hoped to project for their audiences; a reawakening to the awe-inspiring truths of our shared humanity, its beauty and its potential.

Since 1997, when it was established as a not-for-profit company, the theatre has drawn upon the resources of its founders, some acting friends and a growing cadre of professional associates whose commitment to theatre has been enhanced by the creative freedom fostered here; as a consequence, utilizing established classics, under-acknowledged gems from the world repertory and vigorous, new visions of life today, The Storm has succeeded in offering audiences compelling documentation of what it means to be human.

There have been a variety of storms - some intense, others brief, always restorative.

Welcome to our storm. Please come out for many more.

Finding The Storm

All Storm Theatre productions are presented in our new home at

The Church of Notre Dame

405 West 114th Street (at the corner of Morningside Drive)
two blocks from Columbia University
The theatre entrance is around the corner on Morningside Drive

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Subway:
Take the 1 train to 116th St - Columbia University and walk two blocks east on 114th Street.

Buses:
There is bus service along West 110th Street, Amsterdam Avenue, and Broadway.

Parking:
The nearest parking lots are located on 512 West 112th Street (corner of Amsterdam) and 543 West 110th Street (between Broadway and Amsterdam).

OPENS TONIGHT - The London Merchant

Tonight we open our latest production, The London Merchant (or The History of George Barnwell).

First performed in 1731, The London Merchant tells the story of of a young apprentice led astray by a courtesan.

The London Merchant was written by George Lillo, who a remarkable and singular literary figure despite his short theatrical career. Born in London in 1691, he was a jeweler by trade, and saw his first produced work (Silvia, or The Country Burial) in 1730, when he was 39.

The London Merchant, first performed in 1731, is widely cited as the first modern tragedy, primarily for Lillo's attention to the "domestic" issues confronting the common man, rather than to the more commonly-portrayed aristocracy. This marked an exceptional departure for Lillo and created a new genre of theatre which concentrated on the struggles of the working classes. Prior to this, the theatre of the period had predominantly focused on stories relating to the upper classes, biblical or classical themes. The new 'bourgeois drama' became popular across Europe, and gave Lillo a notable place in dramatic history. He wrote at least eight plays before his death in 1739.

Lillo's remarkable play has never before been produced in North America. The Storm Theatre is honored to present this play to our audience.

The London Merchant is on a strictly limited engagement, and runs through January 28th. Tickets are available now through SmartTix - don't miss your opportunity to see this groundbreaking play in its North American premiere!

Welcome to the Storm Theatre!

Welcome to the official blog of the Storm Theatre!

We are a non-profit theatre company in New York City, dedicated to bringing classical, lost and unjustly forgotten plays to our audience.

We hope you will join us soon at www.StormTheatre.com. And keep watching this space for more information on our company and upcoming productions!