Take a walk through City Center's 75-year history in two striking new exhibitions of the treasures of our remarkable past. With the help of curator and archivist David Leopold (Al Hirschfeld Foundations), we’re diving into the vaults of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, as well as our own archives, to share with you the artifacts and ephemera that will keep our history alive for years to come.

At the Center of the Arts for 75 Years
Exhibition on view starting Oct 1, 2018
New York City Center

All season long our building is brimming with the gems of our history for you to explore every time you take in a show. At any performance examine the images of dance, theater, music, and opera wrapping their way up our lobby columns. Walk through a cloud of dancers in our Grand Tier hallways, or watch montages of historical images on our video wall. Find your favorite artists that have graced our stage on never-before-seen backstage posters where City Center performers have signed their names. And so much more: see if you can find all the hidden treasures throughout our landmark theater.

The People’s Theater: Celebrating 75 Years of New York City Center
Exhibition on view Oct 23, 2018 – Mar 2, 2019
The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
40 Lincoln Center Plaza

Uptown in the entryway to the Library for the Performing Arts, City Center’s grand façade welcomes all who come through the doors with a mural decked out in 75 years of posters. In the following corridor gallery, visitors can marvel at years of City Center dancers leaping off the 35-foot-long wall, cases featuring materials from our building’s original construction as a Mecca Temple, and props from so many of our iconic productions. A second floor of the free exhibit culminates in a gallery devoted to Al Hirschfeld drawings that document celebrated moments from the history of theater, dance, music, and opera at City Center.

The Library for the Performing Arts will also host two events featuring critics, scholars, and artists telling their favorite stories from the past 75 years.

A Place to Dance: New York City Center
Thu Nov 29, 2018 – 6pm
Library for the Performing Arts Dance Curator Linda Murray hosts a conversation and screening, celebrating the dance legacy of New York City Center.

Encores! Sing Along Show and Tell
Sat Feb 23, 2019 – 2:30pm
Bring the whole musical theater-loving family to sing along to live performances of your favorite musical numbers from the Encores canon, learn fascinating theater history, play audience games, and enjoy special guest interviews.

Both events are free with reservations. Visit NYPL.org/LPA/Events for ticketing and programming information.

75th Anniversary Season Sponsors
Stacey and Eric Mindich

Support for Archival Research is provided by
Leon Levy Foundation

The Library for the Performing Arts gratefully acknowledges the leadership support of Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman. Additional support for exhibitions has been provided by Judy R. and Alfred A. Rosenberg and the Miriam and Harold Steinberg Foundation.