Dixon Place is a theater organization in New York City dedicated to the development of works-in-progress from a broad range of performers and artists. It exists to serve the creative needs of artists—emerging, mid-career and established—who are creating new work in theater, dance, music, literature, puppetry, performance, variety and visual arts. Many well-known artists, including Ivy Baldwin, Blue Man Group, Laura Peterson, Monica Bill Barnes, John Leguizamo, Lisa Kron, David Cale, Jane Comfort, Risa Jaroslow, Penny Arcade, Katy Pyle, Peggy Shaw, Douglas Dunn, Deb Margolin and Reno, began their careers at Dixon Place. Dixon Place offers 14 shows a week, 7–8 commissions a year, and more than twenty different programs across artistic disciplines, featuring work by more than 1,500 emerging and established artists each year. All artists presenting work in Dixon Place's main-stage programs receive compensation, from work-in-progress showings to artists-in-residence and commissioned artists.

History

Origins

Dixon Place was founded in 1985 by Artistic Director Ellie Covan. After starting Dixon Place as a salon in her Paris apartment in the summer of 1985, Covan re-launched the endeavor in her East Village living room the following year. Her apartment was half of a storefront; she set up folding chairs for audiences and sold drinks and snacks to defray her expenses. After five years at the East Village location, Dixon Place needed to expand. In order to accommodate a growing audience, Dixon Place moved to a larger space on the Bowery in 1991. The loft also served as living space for Covan. Expanded programming, along with an increased staff and audience, prompted another move in 1999, when Dixon Place became the resident company at the Vineyard Theater's 26th Street space. Success in this professional environment led to the decision to secure a permanent home. In 2002, in partnership with a dedicated Board and a forward-thinking developer, Dixon Place purchased an industrial space on Chrystie Street in Lower Manhattan. After a six-year capital funding project, Dixon Place's laboratory theater and lounge, featuring expanded amenities for artists and audiences and new earned income for Dixon Place, had its grand opening in December 2009.

Performances

Many notable artists started their careers at Dixon Place. This includes Reno.

Facility

In addition to a laboratory theater, the new space, designed by Meyer + Gifford Architects, includes artist amenities.

Commissions

In 1994, Dixon Place began the Mondo Cane! Commissioning Program that supports eight theater, dance and music creators annually by providing them with 1-3 months of workshop time, followed by 1-4 weeks of production performances. Mondo Cane! has offered commissions to such artists as The Civilians, The Debate Society and Sibyl Kempson.

Curated Series

Dixon Place offers over twenty year-round, curated programs:

Awards

In 1990, The Village Voice awarded Dixon Place a special OBIE Award.

Sources of funding

Private and Corporate Support for Dixon Place is provided by: Axe-Houghton Foundation, Bernstein Family Foundation, New York Department of Cultural Affairs, Doris Duke Foundation, Harkness Foundation for Dance, The Jim Henson Foundation, Jerome Foundation, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Mertz Gilmore Foundation, Jerome Robbins Foundation, Fan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, New York State Council on the Arts, The Peg Santvoord Foundation, The Shubert Foundation.