Industry News
Laurie Beechman Theatre Launches Star to Be Project For Emerging Artists
The new initiative from Broadway producers Tom D'Angora and Michael D’Angora seeks to support the next generation of theatre artists.
April 16, 2026 By Meg Masseron
The Laurie Beechman Theatre has launched The Star To Be Project, a new initiative for emerging artists, in commemoration of the one-year anniversary of the historic theatre's reopening.
Led by Broadway producers Tom D'Angora and Michael D’Angora, the new owners of the Laurie Beechman Theatre, in association with The York Theatre, Willette Klausner, Open Horizon, Hershel Kleinberg, LisaCohen, Vasi Lawrence, Nick Padgett, and Jim Kierstead, the initiative was created in response to the rising costs of producing live performance in New York City. The program aims to remove financial barriers for emerging performers, writers, and creators while ensuring the theatre can continue its legacy as a vital incubator for new work.
The Star to Be Project will sponsor performances and underwrite production costs, providing artists with access to a professional stage, rehearsal space, and technical support. Programming will include sponsored concerts, free staged readings, a Composer Spotlight Series, workshops and master classes, and industry showcases connecting artists with producers and casting professionals. The program will place a strong emphasis on diversity and inclusion, prioritizing opportunities for underrepresented voices.
The project was named after Laurie Beechman’s Broadway debut, playing the Star-To-Be (with the memorable solo in the middle of "NYC") in the original production of Annie.
The Laurie Beechman Theatre, which opened in 1978 beneath the legendary West Bank Café, has long been a launchpad for theatrical talent. Originally the Downstairs Theatre Bar, it produced over 1,500 one-act plays in its first 14 years, including early works by Aaron Sorkin and breakout performances from Tony Shalhoub, Mary Testa, Holly Hunter, Nathan Lane, and Mark Linn-Baker.
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