Axial Theater is a twenty-three year old ensemble based not-for-profit institution dedicated to supporting the professional development of playwrights and actors mainly based in the Westchester area. We focus on presenting theatrical experiences with a social impact or work that allows our artists to expand in their craft.
Join Axial Theatre Ensemble Members Sandy Rooney, Marisa Lowe, and Duane Rutter in a workshop reading of Advisory Board Member Craig Lucas's play "Ode to Joy" directed by Nathan Flower
When: July 22nd at 7PM
Where: St John's Episcopal Church, 8 Sunnyside Ave, Pleasantville, NY 10570
From Arts Westchester's Fall Magazine, October 2022
Never the Sinner named a "Top Pick" by Arts Westchester, Nov 18th, 2022
Company members Tom Ryan, Michael M. Alva and Youlim Nam
Photo by Donna Svennevik
VISITING ACTORS HAVE INCLUDED: DaJuan Johnson ("Bosch"), Meredith Garretson ("The Offer"), Finnerty Steves ("Orange is the New Black"), Sean Weill ("Boardwalk Empire"), James Patrick Stuart ("The Villains of Valley View"), Tamara Braun ("Days of Our Lives"), Inga Cadranel ("General Hospital") Yoshi Sudarso ("Bullet Train"), Allison Daugherty Smith ("Madame Secretary"), Cliff Carpenter ("Synecdoche, New York"), Brian O'Neill ("Burn After Reading"), MacKenzie Lansing ("Mare of Easttown"), P.J. Sosko ("New Amsterdam")...
VISITING PLAYWRIGHTS INCLUDE: Megan Moston-Brown, Carson Grace Becker, Katie Baldwin Eng, Thomas Coash, Scott Seifert, Christopher Goutman, Scott Sickles, Serena Norr, Lori Meyers, John Mabey, Chima Chikazunga, Jacquelyn Reingold, Youlim Nam, Jeff Gould, Val Stulman, Nanya Agrawal, John Patrick Bray, Brian Quirk, and Karin Diann Williams, Adam Rapp, Gina Gionfriddo, Jessica Dickey, Daniel Talbot ...
Axial Theatre and Honor Roll! announce Arts Partnership to further inclusion of women 40+ playwrights.
Read full press release here
In 2022, Axial invited three-time Emmy© winning actor and two-time Emmy© nominated director Cady McClain to helm Axial Theatre as its new Artistic Director. Since January she has brought on four new board members and two new ensemble members, created monthly readings of new short plays with both local and national playwrights, and is helming a new filmed project unlike anything Axial has done before.
"I am proud to continue the historic development of new plays through Axial Theater's playwriting program and expand the theater's professional footprint through thought-provoking productions, readings of new works and artful experiences followed by discussions with notable invited guests. I am ceaselessly impressed with all that Axial has accomplished to date and look forward to working with its talented ensemble as we expand the theater's reach and impact."
- Cady McClain
Photo by Joshua Shelton
McClain and Meyer met in 1992 at Michael Howard Studios in NYC at a directing workshop held by Curt Dempster of Ensemble Studio Theatre while McClain also studied in Michael Howards Tuesday Master Class. They share a commitment to integrity, quality, and caring towards all aspects of the creative process and a vision for theatre that transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Photo by Champion Hamilton
Equity, Inclusion, Diversity, Accessibility
Axial Theater is committed to sustaining a diverse, inclusive, and equitable space where everyone who walks through our doors feels valued and respected regardless of gender, age, race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, education, or ability.
We understand that the foundation of a vibrant, thriving arts theater and performance venue is the cross-pollination of creative/diverse programming, inclusive practices and strategies, and a diverse team of employees and volunteers who share in these values.
Axial Theatre recognizes the company's historical positionality as a predominantly white and cisgendered space and is continuing to deepen our understanding of and commitment to Equity, Inclusion, Diversity, and Justice within our administrative staff and institution. We are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive space for all individuals, including artists, staff, students, educators, audiences, and patrons, as we support artists at every level of their career to take risks and flourish safely in order to create new work.