Open Jar Studios, a prominent rehearsal space for Broadway productions, is expanding its footprint in Times Square with a new 40,000-square-foot complex.
The facility will be located in the landmark Paramount Building at 1501 Broadway, adding 17 new spaces for rehearsals, auditions, and theatrical artist training. This expansion comes as the company has experienced a significant increase in creative development and a growing need for greater capacity, according to Open Jar founder Jeff Whiting.
The original Open Jar facility, located at 1601 Broadway, spans 50,000 square feet and is known for its 22-foot ceilings, which are suited for major shows. The new location in the Paramount Building will feature smaller studios that do not require the same ceiling height, as explained by Jeffrey Rosenblatt, senior vice president of leasing at Lincoln Property Company, which represented Open Jar Studios.
The Paramount Building itself is over 90% leased, with other tenants including CityPickle. Open Jar Studios first opened in 2019 and has hosted rehearsals for productions such as "The Lost Boys" and "Moulin Rouge!". Its backers include the Shubert Organization and National Artists Management.