Independent film studio A24 is set to reopen the historic Cherry Lane Theatre in New York City this September, transforming the 100-year-old venue into a multi-purpose arts space.
A24 purchased the Off-Broadway theater in 2023 for just over $10 million, rescuing it from financial difficulties. The West Village landmark will now host a mix of film screenings, theater productions, comedy shows, and music events.
The first official public event will be “Sundays with Sofia,” a film series curated by director Sofia Coppola. The series begins on September 14 with a screening of Foxes by Adrian Lyne, followed by a discussion. Additional screenings and events are planned throughout the year.
The 167-seat theater will offer a variety of programming, including artist-led stage productions, emerging talent showcases, comedy, live music, and pop-up performances from established artists. Public events will begin as early as September 8, leading up to Coppola’s series.
In recent weeks, the theater has quietly tested its operations with private events. These included a reading of To Be Young, Gifted and Black, a play by Robert Nemiroff first performed at Cherry Lane in 1969, stand-up comedy by Ramy Youssef, and a listening party for HAIM’s new album I Quit.
As part of its reopening, A24 is partnering with the team behind well-known New York restaurants Frenchette, Le Rock, and Le Veau to open Wild Cherry, a new restaurant and bar within the theater.
While the Cherry Lane has been renovated with new seating, technical upgrades, a film projector, and a concessions kiosk, A24 says the original stage and historic details have been preserved.
This move marks a major step for A24 into live events and venue ownership, joining other companies like Amazon’s Audible, which now stages shows at the nearby Minetta Lane Theater.
