Lincoln Center Gives New Directors and Writers a Stage

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By Gillian Reagan

March 7, 2008 | 5:00 p.m

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In the battle to infiltrate graying theater audiences with some fresh faces, the Lincoln Center Theater has a new strategy. They're launching LCT3, a major new initiative to cultivate new audiences and to produce work by emerging playwrights, directors, and designers. Called LCT3, the program will begin in 2008–09 with two productions at the Duke Theater. Special bonus: all tickets will be $20, according to the New York Sun. The first production, Clay, a one-man hip-hop musical written and performed by a 23-year-old actor, Matt Sax, and directed by Eric Rosen, will have a five-week run in October. The second production will be announced "as soon as we've decided what it is," Lincoln Center reps said.

In the long term, the goal is to build a 99-seat theater for LCT3, either on or near the campus of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. For the first three seasons, LCT will present its productions off-site.

Mr. Bishop has been considering for several years ways to bring new people into what he considers the artistic family of Lincoln Center Theater, which over the years has included playwrights such as Jon Robin Baitz, Tom Stoppard, and the late Wendy Wasserstein, and directors such as Daniel Sullivan, the late Gerald Gutierrez, and Jack O'Brien. Mr. Bishop said he sees LCT3 as his legacy.

Ms. Evans said she saw the position as "an incredible opportunity." Asked if she had a staff to read the scripts that will no doubt start pouring in the door from playwrights and agents, she said that "at this point, I'll be doing it all myself." She said she was eager to work with downtown theaters and small theaters around the country to share information about up-and-coming artists.