Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, theaters throughout New York City remain dark, but the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust in Battery Park City has found a new way to help the cultural and arts community still reach audiences.
Starting in November, the Museum is making its Edmond J. Safra Hall available to theater companies, authors and artists who wish to perform and present live – or to prerecord events – on its stage. The theatre can host performances, lectures, readings, concerts and other events.
Equipped with a six-figure grant from the Edmond J. Safra Foundation, the Museum has spent several months while closed to visitors significantly upgrading the technology in Safra Hall, installing multiple video cameras, an upgraded sound system and a TriCaster for flawless audio and video recording and livestreaming presentations.
“While we will not be able to welcome audiences back into our theater in-person for some time, we recognize the great need for arts and culture to carry us through this period,” said Jack Kliger, president and CEO of the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust. “Thanks to the Edmond J. Safra Foundation, we have invested in upgrading our theater to meet the demand for more virtual programming. And while the Museum will present our events, including a series of concerts, we invite production companies, theatre companies and anyone seeking a place to showcase their work to our theater.”
Audiences got a taste of what’s in store on October 25, when the Museum posted the first of its Live from Safra Hall performances, featuring Frank London’s Klezmer Brass Allstars with actor and Yiddish-singer Eleanor Reissa and percussionist Deep Singh. The ticketed even streamed live to a virtual audience via the Museum’s website.
The Museum will charge affordable rates for use of the space and has instituted health and safety measures at the Museum amid COVID-19. The Museum recently reopened to visitors at a reduced attendance rate to allow for social distancing while patrons tour its exhibitions.
