The Hangar Theatre is located in Ithaca, NY, in the heart of the Finger Lakes region. The natural beauty of the landscape and rich cultural attractions make Ithaca a unique and fascinating place to explore and stay. If you are in the Ithaca area, make sure you check out some of our favorite local attractions. By clicking over to VisitIthaca.com you'll find all the information you need on hotels, attractions, dining, shopping and recreation in and around the Ithaca area.
For information on other theatre, music, events, and festivals in the Ithaca area, visit IthacaEvents.com.
The Hangar Theatre is located just 2 miles from downtown Ithaca on Route 89 at the Treman Marina entrance of Cass Park. The street address of the theatre is 801 Taughannock Blvd./Route 89. The Hangar Theatre Business Office is located in Center Ithaca building on the Ithaca Commons, 171 E. State Street, space 230.
The Center for the Arts at Ithaca, Inc., also known as the Hangar Theatre, is committed to providing exceptional theatre experiences of high professional quality to enrich, enlighten, educate, and entertain the diverse audience in the Finger Lakes region and beyond. Strong education and training programs are central parts of our commitment to the local and national artistic communities. The Hangar Theatre is a not-for-profit.
THE HANGAR THEATRE opened in 1975, in a renovated municipal airport hangar. This unique conversion was made possible by a grant from Nelson Rockefeller and the combined efforts and support of the Ithaca Repertory Theatre, Cornell University, Ithaca College, and the City of Ithaca. In 1986 the Hangar received another significant grant, this time from the New York State Natural Heritage Trust, to build an adjacent set and costume shop. The Hangar's capital campaign in 1995 raised more than $270,000 for additional improvements to the facility.
In the summer of 2008 the Hangar announced a $4.6 million capital campaign to renovate and winterize the theatre and build endowment for sustainability. As of December 21, 2009 the theatre had raised 92% of the goal from our community.
From 1982-1996, under the artistic leadership of Robert Moss from New York's Playwrights Horizons, the Hangar achieved national prominence as a professional regional theatre that produced exceptional plays and served as a fertile learning environment for young theatre professionals. In 1988, the Hangar's directing internship program expanded when The Drama League Project began sending emerging directors to the Hangar to direct plays in the Wedge, and in 1989 the Lab Company was formed. The appointment of Mark Ramont as artistic director from 1997-2000 signaled the beginning of another phase of creative growth on the Mainstage. At the same time, under Lisa Bushlow's leadership as education director from 1991-2000, the Hangar became recognized throughout New York State and across the country for its extraordinary, comprehensive, year-round theatre education programs.
In 2000, the Board appointed Lisa as the Hangar's first executive director, at which time she recommended Kevin Moriarty as the artistic director. Under their leadership the Hangar has continued to grow and develop, adding a New Play Festival in 2001, the Hangar tent and Starlight Café in 2002, and expanded artistic and educational programming, including the commissioning of new plays. Peter Flynn began as the Artistic Director in August 2008.
During the school year, the Hangar brings a range of theatre experiences to students across New York State, with the School Tour Program, Artists-in-the-Schools, and Project 4 – a program now in every fourth grade class in the Ithaca City, Lansing, and Trumansburg School Districts. Throughout the summer, KIDDSTUFF performances and the Next Generation School of Theatre reach thousands of young people. The Hangar currently serves more than 60,000 adults and children annually.