As previously reported, the Signature Center will be part of the $800 million LEED-Silver Complex that will also include 800 housing units and a hotel.

The LEED-Silver building is expected to be completed in 2011, with the Signature Center expected to be completed in 2012.

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, Signature Theatre Company founding artistic director James Houghton and Related Companies executive vice president Bruce A. Beal Jr. announced a $60 million partnership to create a new home for the theatre company. The Frank Gehry-designed Signature Center will be part of Related Companies' $800 million, 59-story, residential building and hotel on 42nd Street and 10th Avenue on the western edge of the midtown theatre district.

The performing arts center will feature "three intimate and distinct theatres, rehearsal studios, a café, bookstore and administrative offices, and will allow Signature to more than double its audience, with anticipated attendance of more than 80,000."

(Frank Gehry is designing the theatre center, Arquitectonica and Ismael Leyva are designing the rest of the building.)

Signature is currently running the critically acclaimed, sold-out The Orphans' Home Cycle by Horton Foote, a nine-hour, three-part theatrical event and the company's most ambitious programming to date (22 actors, multiple set locations).

*

Joining Mayor Bloomberg at the announcement, which took place on the construction site of the new complex, were New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Kate D. Levin, and Signature Theatre Company Playwright-in-Residence in 2010-11 Tony Kushner, Signature executive director Erika Mallin and artists-in-residence Bill Irwin, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Hallie Foote, John Guare and Edward Albee.

"Signature Theatre Company is one of New York City's most successful and fastest growing cultural groups, and its spectacular new home will allow it to continue to expand," stated Mayor Bloomberg. "The $25 million commitment, combined with a $35 million private investment, will result in a new, world-class performance venue in the heart of the city's theatre district. The fact that Related Companies is moving forward with the major development project now is great news and will have a profound impact, not only on the cultural industry and the city's skyline, but also on the local economy. There was a period when the future of the project was in question — as were its 700 construction jobs and hundreds of units of much-needed housing. But the construction unions, contractors, architects and engineers worked together to reduce costs, and today it's serving as a prime example that — despite the national economic downturn — large-scale projects are still happening."

Speaker Quinn stated, "We recognize that in order for the city's theatres to thrive we need to invest in them. I am very happy the city was able to participate in this public private partnership. With the incredible new space that the Signature Theatre Company is acquiring, I look forward to not only the many exciting projects that are sure to come, but the jobs it is creating for our city particularly during this difficult time."

Houghton stated, "Since its founding, Signature Theatre Company has been making an extended commitment to a playwrights' body of work, championing the playwright's singular vision, and involving the playwright in every aspect of the creative process. The Signature Center will be a home for many diverse writers to create work that engages even more artists and audiences. The collision and interaction of multiple distinct voices reveals the greater power of our collective stories. We are honored to have the extraordinary support of the City of New York and the Related Companies as we bring Signature's artistic vision to life on an even larger scale."

*

Founded in 1991 by James Houghton, Signature is the first theatre company to devote an entire season to the work of a single playwright, providing audiences with re-examinations of past writings, as well as New York and world premieres. Since 2005, Signature "has been committed to presenting its world-class programming at an affordable price: the Signature Ticket Initiative, with major support form Time Warner, offers subsidized $20 tickets to all performances. Signature's initiative has become a model in breaking down price barriers to theatre, helping to attract younger and more diverse audiences."

Signature will celebrate its 20th anniversary in the 2010-11 season by presenting a season of works by Pulitzer-Prize winner Tony Kushner, including the first New York revival of Angels in America.

Visit signaturetheare.org.