Lincoln Center Theater

The organization observes Lincoln Center (LCT) founder John D. Rockefeller 3rd's mandate that the arts are "not for the privileged few, but for the many." Guided by the motto, "Good Plays, Popular Prices," Lincoln Center Theater makes every effort to keep admission prices low and its doors open to all.

Lincoln Center Theater was re-established in 1985 by Chairman John V. Lindsay, Director Gregory Mosher, and Executive Producer Bernard Gersten. The New York Times named it "the pre-eminent theater in the country." Today, under the leadership of Chair Kewsong Lee and Producing Artistic Director André Bishop, the organization produces dozens of plays and musicals, seen by millions of audience members at the Vivian Beaumont Theater, the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater, the Claire Tow Theater, and other venues.

Lincoln Center Theater also distributes thousands of free tickets yearly to culturally under-served populations throughout the five boroughs and regularly offers special performances for the hearing impaired. Other ongoing activities include the Directors Lab, a developmental symposium for new and emerging artists; Open Stages, an arts-in-education program operated in cooperation with New York City public schools; Lincoln Center Theater Review, a literary journal available in the Theater's lobbies and distributed free-of-charge to schools and libraries, and the Platform Series of free conversations with LCT artists.

In June 2012, LCT opened a new 2-story addition on the roof of the Vivian Beaumont Theater. This addition includes the Claire Tow Theater, rehearsal rooms, office space, and a roof terrace. It is the permanent home of LCT3, our programming initiative devoted to producing the work of new playwrights, directors, and designers. LCT3 is bringing a new generation of artists and audiences to LCT through fully staged productions and affordable tickets.