Our History
In 1990, the New 42nd Street was formed to oversee the redevelopment of seven neglected and historic theatres on 42nd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues and to restore the block to a desirable tourist destination.
Land Acknowledgement
We are on the island known as Mannahatta, now called Manhattan, in Lenapehoking, the homeland of the Lenape people. These lands are intertribal trade lands under the stewardship of many Nations, and New Victory acknowledges the systematic erasure of their true history. The land of the five boroughs that make up New York City was and still is inhabited by the Lenape, Merrick, Canarsie, Rockaway and Matinecock Nations.
We celebrate and pay deep respect to the Peoples of these Nations, their cultures, their communities, their elders past and present, those with us today, and all their future generations. We recognize that seized lands are historically inhabited by people who are racialized, marginalized and displaced by those in power, and we offer this land acknowledgement as a step in reexamining our relationship to that history. We offer our gratitude to the Indigenous peoples of many the Nations who continue to act as stewards of the land, and we encourage you to learn more about these vibrant communities.
History of New 42
New 42 was originally established in 1990 by New York City and State (as The New 42nd Street) to revive what Rolling Stone called “the sleaziest block in America” – West 42nd Street between 7th and 8th Avenues. The independent nonprofit was given the 99-year lease of the block’s seven historic theaters to find new uses for the Apollo Theatre, Empire Theatre, Liberty Theatre, Lyric Theatre, Selwyn Theatre, Victory Theatre and Times Square Theater.
The metamorphosis of the block was launched by New 42’s reinvention of the XXX-rated movie house The Victory into the New Victory Theater, opening as the City’s first theater for kids and families in 1995. In 2000, New 42 opened New 42 Studios, a 10-story performing arts complex hosting rehearsals of commercial and nonprofit performing arts companies. These signature projects have brought millions of New Yorkers and visitors to the City of all ages to the block, cultivating a unique family-friendly hub for creativity and play.
In the years since its founding, New 42 has transformed from an urban redevelopment organization to one of New York City’s most visionary cultural nonprofits. Its community includes professional artists rehearsing shows from Broadway, Off-Broadway and regional theaters to the West End, teens participating in award-winning workforce development programs, international and American artists debuting work for young people, and educators and school kids and families from across the five boroughs. All of them are part of New 42’s mission to engage people in the arts at the earliest age possible, with a commitment to accessibility and affordability.
Post-global pandemic, New 42’s role in leading the dynamic evolution of 42nd Street is more important than ever. New 42 stewards the block as a safe and exciting destination, bringing life to the block through its projects and historic theater properties on a daily basis.
