A total of 18 non-profit theatre companies (members of the Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York or A.R.T./NY) have been confirmed as charter tenants at South Oxford Space, the former Brooklyn Visiting Nurses Association at 138 South Oxford Street in Brooklyn.

As reported earlier, the building itself was scouted and secured by A.R.T./NY to provide affordable offices to its member organizations.

"What it means for most of these companies," said A.R.T./NY director of development and marketing Mark Rossier, "is that it gives them room to grow administratively and artistically. A lot of these companies were working out of apartments -- and you can't even get interns when you are working out of your apartment. Colleges won't put you on the list of possibilities if your office is in your house."

Rossier told Playbill On-Line that a number of South Oxford tenants had mentioned that psychologically there was something positive about being able to go to a nice building and your own separate, lockable office.

"It's kind of indefinable," Rossier said, "but lots of them have said it -- the space makes them feel as professional as they actually are." "A lot of people had been spending a lot of time doing rudimentary tasks that were important," Rossier added, "but they were spending lot more than they needed to. Now, they can spend more time creating the art and a lot less running to Kinko s to make a copy or to send a fax."

Following are the South Oxford tenants and some of the dates when they care expected to move in: American Opera Projects -- June 1; Aulis Collective for Theatre & Media -- April 1; Chain Lightning Theatre -- June 1; Chekhov Theatre Ensemble -- March 5; Coffee Clutch Productions -- May 1; Collision Theory -- March 21; Elders Share the Arts March -- 14; Encompass Music Theatre - March 30; Flying Bridge Community Arts - March 22; Kings County Shakespeare Co. -- April 3; North American Cultural Laboratory -- March 23; Roots and Branches Intergenerational Theater -- mid-May; Salt & Pepper Mime Company -- after May; Shadow Box Theatre -- May; Stageplays Theatre Company -- May 1; Target Margin Theater -- May 1; Todo Con Nada -- May 15; and White Bird Productions -- May 15.

The offices for all these groups will be located at 138 South Oxford Street, Brooklyn, New York, 11217. For information call (718) 398-2494 (phone/fax)

-- By Murdoch McBride