Seaview, the Tony Award-winning production company behind Broadway shows like Figure, Romeo + Juliet, Once Upon a Mattress and All in and recent Off-Broadway shows Hold on to me, baby and Danny and the deep blue seaIt acquired the historic Tony Keyser Theater in Manhattan, formerly owned by Second Stage Theater Company.
The sale, which takes effect on January 1, 2025, will see the 296-seat off-Broadway theater located in the downtown Theater District “refreshed” and rebranded from the Tony Kiser Theater to Seaview Studio. While the “Off-Broadway” designation will remain — Broadway venues must have at least 500 seats — the acquisition transforms the space from a non-profit to a commercial theater.
The first production at Studio Seaview will be directed by Sam Gold and will debut in the spring of 2025, to be announced soon. Seaview has a long-standing relationship with Gold, most recently collaborating on Broadway Enemy of the people Starring Jeremy Strong and Romeo + Juliet Starring Kate Connor and Rachel Ziegler.
Built as a bank in 1927, the building was converted into a Second Stage Theater performance space in 1999 by architect Rem Koolhaas in collaboration with Richard Gluckman. The theater’s distinctive design “will be handled with great care under Seaview’s supervision,” Seaview’s announcement noted. Award-winning designer Scott Pask will oversee the preservation of Koolhaas’ signature design and refreshing elements such as the bar and entry lobby to align with Seaview’s vision of a “welcoming, community-led experience.”
The theater’s capacity will remain at 296 seats, with its infrastructure including rehearsal space, dressing rooms, flying space and extensive stage equipment. The new owners say these features make the venue suitable for both plays and musicals and allow for expanded design possibilities.
According to Seaview’s announcement, the new owner “will honor the theater’s rich history while introducing a new generation of theatergoers to bold new works.”
“Seaview is thrilled to accept this exciting new venture,” said Greg Nobile, co-founder and CEO of Seaview. “Seaview has been fortunate enough to work Off-Broadway since the company was founded. We are proud to join the community of theater operators and producers to bring more bold works to the city.”
Seaview most recently served as lead producer of Off Broadway songs Hold on to me, baby Starring Adam Driver and Danny and the deep blue sea Starring Aubrey Plaza and Christopher Abbott. Both productions were performed at the Lucille Lortel Theater in Manhattan’s West Village.
Nobile continued, “Our approach to Studio Seaview is one that prioritizes both the artistic process and the audience experience. We want this space to be a place where pioneering works can come to life – where the traditional barriers of theater are removed, and creativity flourishes. We are obsessed with creating an environment People are excited to live it. We believe that the experience of going to the theater should be as unique as the work itself, and we are excited to create that experience at Studio Seaview.
“We are proud to continue the legacy of the Tony Kiser Theater and the exceptional work created there over the past 25 years under Second Stage Theater’s leadership by some of the most distinguished writers in our industry,” said Nate Koch, Seaview’s chief operating officer. Creators, performers and practitioners. This is an opportunity to deepen our commitment to the Off-Broadway Renaissance – to keep our beloved historic theater intact while expanding our ability as a company to showcase exceptional creativity, in an intimate setting, and without the constraints of the traditional Broadway model. “
Kiser Phase II — the name honors the Phase II donor — moved on in 2024, one of the clearest indicators of the financial challenges facing nonprofit theaters in the city and across the country in the post-Covid era. The second phase continues production of Broadway shows (such as the current show The cult of love And the next very) and just off Broadway in the iconic Pershing Square mall on 42nd Street.
“The freedom of Off-Broadway allows us to take creative risks and explore new theatrical territories,” Nobile said. “We are excited to program the space with shows that challenge the traditional theater model and that might not find a place on a Broadway stage. This is where we can curate work that interests us and that we believe will resonate with audiences.”
Seaview programming at the venue will be scheduled on a show-by-show basis rather than adhering to traditional seasons, according to the producer.
Carol Fishman, former managing director of Second Stage Theater and a key figure in the creation of the Tony Kiser Theater, will join Seaview as general manager of Studio Seaview.
“I am excited to join Seaview in this vital new venture that will provide resources to visionary artists, and will do so with the extraordinary freshness and imagination that characterize Seaview’s productions,” Fishman said. “Opening the Tony Kiser Theater has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career, and I am thrilled to return to 305 W 43rd Street, working alongside Greg Nobile and Nate Koch, to launch Studio Seaview, a theater that will be similarly transformative, Off-Broadway and beyond.”
Seaview was founded in 2012 by Nobile and Jana Shea as a New York-based theater, film and television company. Upcoming Broadway productions include this season Good night and good luck Starring George Clooney, and The past five years Starring Nick Jonas and Adrian Warren. Includes London productions Slave play and My builder master.
Seaview is represented by Realtors David A. Green, vice chairman of Tri-State Retail, and Xander Green, associate of Collier.
