About The Starr
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About The Starr »
★ Who We Are
We are an award-winning nonprofit theater in Bushwick that provides a home for artists, community, and bold new work. Since opening in 2007, we’ve grown from a fledgling neighborhood arts space into the vital cultural center we are today, rooted in service to our Brooklyn community. We are a welcoming gathering place where artists can make career-defining leaps, students of all ages can explore theater, and audiences can be part of new and meaningful experiences.
★ A Home For Artists
At the Starr, we champion people, not projects. We’ve cultivated a deeply supportive environment for both emerging and established New York City artists who want to express themselves freely and stretch their practice as they evolve. The access we provide to build a show in the same space where it will be performed is rare. The result is risk-taking work that moves the form forward.
★ Engaged In Learning and connection
We are a boundary-pushing venue that reaches audiences throughout NYC and beyond, while also acting as a hyperlocal education and community center. This unique combination allows us to invite everyone in through affordable, accessible offerings. People of all ages and backgrounds—from public school students to seniors—come into this space to be immersed in stories, conversation, education, and art-making. Curiosity evolves into connection, and through those connections, our community grows.
★ Building Our Future
In 2020, the Starr began planning for a transformational next chapter: creating a permanent home that could better support our expanding programs and the artists and community we serve. In April 2021, we purchased a 5,000-square-foot building in Bushwick and launched a capital campaign to transform it into a state-of-the-art theater. Supported by private, city, and state funding, the renovation was completed in August 2024, and our inaugural season opened to critical acclaim and sold-out houses. Our new LEED-certified, fully accessible facility was built to carry the organization into the future, allowing us to welcome more artists, audiences, students, and neighbors than ever before.
The Starr’s permanent home was acquired with Matt Hopkins and Jane Brody of Vicus Partners, with financing from The New York Pooled PRI Fund managed by SeaChange Capital Partners, legal services from Blank Rome LLP and Ken Gordon Esq., and invaluable guidance from Randi Berry and Paul Leibowitz of IndieSpace. The project was designed and constructed by architect Peter Zuspan of Bureau V with project managers About The Work. The Starr Campaign for a Permanent Home & Flourishing Future was developed with support from P.S.314.