Ars Nova Theater

This theater is cute — small but intimate. It supports innovative and fresh-​thinking actors at the beginning of their career, and it made you feel like you were really watching something special and thoughtful.
I went to watch standup comedy/​poetry by a hilarious young gay writer and it was hilarious, endearing, serious at times… and cheap tickets!
My friend and I got $ 10 wine (double pour… yeah) and a cup of a random assortment of candy for $ 3 (I felt like a kid in a candy store… literally). I would definitely come back!

Enjoyed the charlatan magic show. Small place with great staff. Long walk from train station though. Will visit again soon.

Incredibly funny and affordable comedy. Hard to beat that combination.
Definitely worth a look.

I went last night to see SHIDA. The musical is most definitely one I give a 5-​star review, and cannot recommend highly enough. But this isn’t a page for SHIDA. It’s a page for Ars Nova.
I like the space. The staff were all welcoming. The sound technician did a really great job of balancing the sound so that we weren’t uncomfortably blasted away. They set up the space as well as they are able.
But it’s small, tight, and cramped. They space the chairs well, and they have seating where the back of the chair bends back a bit (blessing and curse all in one… though comfortable, for the most part). It’s clean. It’s nice. But the layout makes it a bit difficult to comfortably view certain types of stage blocking. And, with most of the seating not being tiered, you get the «why did the tallest dude in the world just sit down in front of me?» effect. Some of the seating in the back was elevated. But it was all reserved, and we were directed to take floor seating. We didn’t miss much of the show. But definitely not our first preference.
It also gets very claustrophobic in the lobby after the show. I had to struggle to make it to the door to get out. And it doesn’t help that there is only one bathroom, and folks clump to get in.
Lastly — and maybe this was show specific — it was off to have the back of our hands stamped, club style, instead of just using the program as the ticket. Odd.
Will any of this keep me from seeing a show of interest in this space? Not at all. But I will always try to err on the side of arriving early, since the seating looks to always be first come, first served, and, if the ticket price is too high for this space, I’ll probably opt to not come.
Still, nice space and option for the area.

I went here on a Thursday night to see SHOWGASM!, a monthly variety show with comedians, musicians, and all forms of good ol’ fashioned live entertainment. A friend’s band was acting as the house band for the night and I was advised to get there early for the pre-​show drink specials. The prices are INSANE! $ 5 shot specials that come with a beer, $ 3 well drinks, and pickle shots. A pickle shot is a shot of whiskey followed immediately by a shot of pickle juice and if you have never had one than you have never lived. The ambiance of the venue is cool with dim lights and tables and chairs scattered about in true lounge style. Between the cheap wonderful drinks, hilarious performers, and adorable bartender I would definitely come here again.

I’ve grown to appreciate venues that are kind of tucked away from the standard giant venues you find in the midtown area, and Ars Nova is a great example of that.
It’s a small venue, with tables set up by the front of the stage, and then tiered seating towards the back. The bar is in the rear.
I paid $ 10 for a puppet show featuring a full band. It sounds a bit silly, but it was awesome. In addition to entertainment, Ars Nova offered a free shot if I signed up for their newsletter. After that, beers were $ 3. Cheap entertainment, even cheaper beer. Really hard to find any fault with this place.
If a band or artist you like is performing here, I’d definitely recommend making the trek to see them. You can’t get more intimate that this. unless you invite them to play in your living room.

The slickest small theater in town. Saw The Gay Agenda perform here on a Tuesday night. Great sound, great views, comfortable seats and an accessible bar with a halfway decent selection of booze. Yay! Plus, the show was hilarious.

Very nice little Theater and very well run. You can tell they spent a lot of money making this a nice space. I’ve seen some interesting avant garde shows here. Location is a little off the beaten path though.

I saw the Story Pirates perform here and until a friend noticed that they were performing there I had no idea that a theater existed next to my apartment building. The theather is really small but I call that «cozy» and they sell beer so I can’t complain. I like that this type of theater exists in general and I am glad I got to experience such a fun show there.

Went here with friends to see Lauren Weedman perform her one-​woman show, Bust. Show was Fantastic. Hilarious, raunchy, poignant, cunningly-​stunningly executed.
…ah, but the space. yes. Ars Nova is sharp. As other Unilocalers have commented, it’s clean. Sleek. Well-​maintained. Comfortable.
and the staff were all courteous and efficient.

ever since seeing Jollyship the Whiz Bang twice and buying 2 Ars Nova memberships (1 free drink per show at the minibar – yes double joyride!) it officially became my favorite off off broadway theater in the city. welcomingly laid out, consistently good productions and friendly staff, plus a great mix of audience. did i mention the bar?

This theatre is like a warm hug for artists. Everyone there is enthusiastic and approachable. I would work here again in a second.

I recently saw Julia Sweeney’s show at Ars Nova and was impressed by the cozy feeling inside the theater. The seating is set up well so that most places have an excellent view (even if you are short). I was also happy to see that the snack bar had Chocolate Bar chocolate bars.

An underappreciated small venue located out in Hell’s Kitchen, nextdoor to the Comedy Central studios, Ars Nova hosts standup events, small theatre pieces, and the occasional band. Expect a downtown comedy feel from the acts here, with a lack of pretension and no focus on forcing drinks down your throat.