The Theater District’s newest hotel, Civilian, celebrates theater design. Jason Pomeranc is the owner and creator of the Civilian brand along with David Rockwell, who served as the architect, interior designer, and curator of Civilian’s art program, the Olio Collection. A portion of fees will go to support Civilian’s charitable partner the American Theatre Wing. Here’s a 16-minute video walk through tour, from Hospitality Design magazine with David Rockwell:
Civilian is a 27-story, 203 room hotel designed to celebrate its Broadway location by paying homage to the creative contributions of New York’s theatrical artists. In a statement, Pomeranc said, “We are thrilled to bring the Civilian brand to the global epicenter of the theatrical artform. This area represents more than an industry – it’s where passionate fans and talented artists collide. It is our job to make that great, ongoing collision as comfortable, stylish, and exciting as possible.”
The hotel’s Olio Collection is a theater-focused curated art exhibition with permanent and rotating artifacts, original works, and archival photography. Over 350 pieces of art – including sketches, models, photographs, props, costumes, murals, and custom furnishings – are located throughout the public spaces and guest rooms. Together, Olio represents [more than] 100 years of Broadway history.
Tony Award-winning set, costume, and lighting designers such as Rachel Hauck (Hadestown), Christine Jones (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), Paul Tazewell (Hamilton), Clint Ramos (Eclipsed) and Jules Fisher (Pippin and eight others) are among those whom Rockwell (Hairspray, Into the Woods) recruited for the project. In addition to the theatrical designers that curated The Olio Collection, Rockwell also included New York Times photographer Sarah Krulwich, Broadway photographer Bruce Glikas, Little Fang, and many more.
Rockwell added, “This is the perfect expression of my two great loves: performance and design. Having the chance to delve deep into Broadway history, and create a permanent tribute to our ephemeral artform, has been a dream. I am even more in awe of the level of talent that populates these fourteen midtown blocks than I was when I began this project.”
Civilian is donating a portion of its fees to the American Theatre Wing (ATW) to help in its mission of supporting the theatrical art-form, including providing crucial resources for so many of the creatives affected by Covid.
“The American Theatre Wing’s deep history with Theater District gathering places goes all the way back to the Stage Door Canteen,” said ATW President Heather Hitchens. “We see this partnership as an extension of that spirit, and we are extraordinarily grateful for the support at this time of great need within our community.”
Through a powerful suite of programs that address all aspects of the national theater ecology, The American Theatre Wing encourages the discovery of theatre by people of all ages, nurtures talent on stage and off, creates pathways for success for students and young professionals, and encourages the development of the art form itself by recognizing and supporting innovative and excellent work with awards and grants.
Further information from the American Theatre Wing: www.AmericanTheatreWing.org
Further information from the Civilian Hotel: www.CivilianHotel.com
