NEW YORK — A historic project is under construction in Inwood, a new theatre that will highlight and support the work of immigrants in New York.
The People’s Theatre Project is behind the new Immigrant Research and Performing Arts Center.
Broadway star Lin-Manuel Miranda was on hand Wednesday to help break ground on the multi-million dollar arts and cultural centre, which he says will usher in a revitalised Uptown.
The project is expected to foster greater creativity and community for Inwood and Washington Heights.
Vida Tayabati and three other company members of the People’s Theatre Project performed inches from Governor Kathy Hochul and entertainer extraordinaire Miranda.
The occasion was the opening of a cultural centre on the ground floor of 407 W. 206th St. It’s a $37 million new home for young artists like Tayabati.
“I am Iranian. We have people from China, Korea, Africa, all over, from different places,” Tayabati said. “We are gathered here at PTP with the same goal, to show that we can work together, that we are the same.”
It’s the first permanent home for the People’s Theatre Project in its 15-year history.
Hochul and Miranda were given a tour by Mino Lora, PTP’s executive artistic director.
“It’s a 19,000 square foot cultural centre. There are rehearsal rooms, sound booths, dressing rooms, green rooms and art gallery space, as well as a state-of-the-art theatre. So the ‘Centro Cultural Inmigrante’ will come in 2026 to serve our community and artists throughout the city,” said Lora. “It’s for immigrants. So we have social workers all over the city who refer unaccompanied minors to us and we work with them to build their skills through theatre. Some of the young people who performed today arrived as unaccompanied minors a few years ago. Separated from their families, crossing the border on their own, and here they are telling those stories.
Miranda personally donated $1 million to the centre.
“As someone who grew up a few blocks from here, to have a theatre in our neighbourhood is incredible. A Latina-owned, Latina-run theatre in Inwood, wow,” Miranda said. “This is a joyous day because this is a real dream come true for the many artists who grew up in Washington Heights and Inwood and now will be able to make theatre in the actual neighborhood where they live.”
“The recognition that goes from this day forward is that immigrant stories are American stories, and they need to unfold right here in this place, and they need to be transported to other neighborhoods and other venues,” Hochul said. “This is a place that, when all is said and done, will magically transform this place into a place where dreams come true.”
Many of the dignitaries gathered on Wednesday promised to be back by the river in 2026 to cut the ribbon.
The floors above the cultural centre will include affordable rental housing, part of a separate project with a price tag of more than $400 million.
