New Brooklyn Theater to Offer Dining, Dancing Options

In addition to taking in a play, a new theater being developed in Brooklyn, N.Y., will offer patrons venues to dine and socialize. Slated to open next year at 421 Troutman St. in Brooklyn’s Bushwick neighborhood, the 10,300-square-foot, purpose-built Empyrean Club will have a total capacity of 590 guests, including a 299-seat mainstage theatre.

“The Empyrean Club presents a new blueprint for cultural production, offering a multi-sensory experience rooted in dynamic programming, architectural and design excellence, and an integrated approach to hospitality,” project backers said in a news release. “It has been designed as a complete night out under one roof, with live performance flowing seamlessly into cocktails, sushi omakase, dancing, conversation pits and late-night social spaces.”

Spearheading the project are Max Hunter, Founding Artistic Director of The Bridge Production Group, who leads the Empyrean Club’s theatrical creative and will direct the production of “American Psycho” that will kick off the venue’s play offerings; Lucas Katler, a Tony Award-winning producer overseeing business and long-term strategy; and Jesse Singer, Founder of Neon Noir, spearheading the venue’s architecture, design and experiential strategy.

“We want to blur the boundaries between venue, artform and experience,” says Singer. “Architecture itself becomes a form of media here. The space will be expressive, atmospheric, conversational and modular — capable of transforming from theatre to intimate lounge areas, to a concert venue, to a dance party without missing a beat.”

The project’s backers also note that the Empyrean Club is designed to be scalable into the cultural infrastructure of a variety of settings.