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McKittrick Hotel

The McKittrick Hotel (also known as The McKittrick) is a performing arts venue themed as a 1930s hotel in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. It is located at 530 West 27th Street and is best known as the setting of the immersive theater production Sleep No More.[1] It has also featured a bar and dining space known as Gallow Green on the roof,[2] a restaurant called the Club Car (originally called the Heath) on the sixth floor,[3] and the Manderley bar on the second floor.[4] In addition to Sleep No More, it has been used as a venue for a number of parties, performances, and special events.[5] It is expected to close in January 2025 following the final performance of Sleep No More and a trio of farewell parties entitled APPARITIONS.[6]

McKittrick Hotel
Exterior of the McKittrick Hotel
Map
Address530 West 27th Street
Manhattan, New York
United States
Coordinates40°45′02″N 74°00′14″W / 40.75056°N 74.00389°W / 40.75056; -74.00389
Opened2011
Website
https://mckittrickhotel.com/

The venue's name is a reference to the Alfred Hitchcock film Vertigo.

Location and theming

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The McKittrick spans roughly 100,000 square feet (9,300 square meters) across three adjoining warehouses.[7] There are six stories and around a hundred rooms.[8] This space was previously used as part of several nightclubs, including Twilo and Guesthouse before its conversion into the McKittrick in 2011.[9]

The McKittrick was never a real hotel, but Emursive, the producers of Sleep No More and many of the other events at the venue, have created a fictitious history for it. According to its official website, the McKittrick was built in 1939 to be New York's "most decadent" hotel but was shut down two days after the outbreak of World War II (six weeks before the hotel's scheduled opening).[10] While not all areas of the venue reflect a hotel theming, they generally maintain a 1930s noir aesthetic.

Programs and events

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The McKittrick is primarily used as the set for Sleep No More, a retelling of William Shakespeare's play Macbeth with additional elements from the Paisley witch trials and the films of Alfred Hitchcock. It spans all six floors of the space and is famous its immersive elements and the distinctive masks that audience members wear during the performance.[11] Sleep No More opened on March 7, 2011 and is expected to close on January 5, 2025.[6] It has won numerous awards, including the 2011 Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience[12] and special citations for design and choreography for its production company Punchdrunk at the 2011 Obie Awards.[13][14]

Since its opening in 2011, the McKittrick has also hosted a wide range of limited-time events, including:

  • Hypnotique, a burlesque show.[15][16]
  • The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart, a production of David Greig's musical, in partnership with the National Theater of Scotland.[17][18] It ran from November 2016 to April 23, 2017 in the Heath.
  • SuperCinema, a series of parties inspired by movies such as Clue and The Great Gatsby.[19][20][21]
  • Bartschland Follies (also known as the McKittrick Follies or simply the Follies), a late-night show headed by Susanne Bartsch involving a mix of cabaret and burlesque.[22]
  • Inferno, a Halloween-themed party.[23][24]
  • The Lost Supper – A Hypnotic Dinner Party, a mixture of dining and cabaret performance, featuring actors in animal masks.[25] It ran in a part of the Heath called the Attic in 2018 and closed on September 9 of that year.
  • At the Illusionist's Table, a combination dining and magic performance designed, had a number of runs at the McKittrick.[26][27]
  • Sleep No More: Salon Series, discussion sections following performances of Sleep No More. Salons were typically discussions between Emursive Chief Storyteller Ilana Gilovich and two members of the Sleep No More production team, followed by audience Q&A.[28]
  • Sleep No More: Roundtable Series, audience talkbacks typically preceding Sleep No More performances.
  • Speakeasy Magick, a magic show featuring a number of performers, each with a ten minute act. This was later moved from the McKittrick to the nearby Overlook Bar.[29]
  • APPARITIONS, a three-night series of parties scheduled for January 9–11, 2025 to bid farewell to the New York production of Sleep No More and the McKittrick.[30]

There have also been various parties for other holidays and events.[31][32][33][34]

Spaces

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The McKittrick consists of three main spaces: the Manderley bar, the Sleep No More set, and the combination of the Club Car and Gallow Green, which spans the top floor and the rooftop.

Manderley bar

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Upon entering the venue and passing the coat check, guests ascend a flight of stairs to the second floor and pass through a dark maze to reach the Manderley bar. Named after the estate in the novel Rebecca (upon which the Hitchcock film is based), the bar features two connected rooms – one with the bar and a performance area and another further back with additional seating. During performances of Sleep No More, the area around the stage is roped off for those who have paid for premium entry. The performance area often features live music appropriate for the 1930s theming, including covers of modern pop songs.

In addition to its use during performances of Sleep No More and other events such as the Follies, the Manderley sometimes functions as a normal bar open to the public.[4][35]

Sleep No More set

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Main article: Sleep No More (2011 play)

The majority of the McKittrick is taken up by the set of Sleep No More, which spans all six floors. Guests enter on the first floor and after "checking in," are brought up to the Manderley bar. They are then given access to the performance area via elevator or stairwell. The space consists of:

  • Floor 1 – The McKittrick Hotel Ballroom, with a large dance area and mezzanine above, in addition to smaller rooms including a small crypt, a chapel, and a bedroom belonging to Duncan.
  • Floor 2 – The McKittrick Hotel Lobby, including a check-in desk, phone booths, a luggage area, and a dining area. There is also access from this area to the Manderley.
  • Floor 3 – The McKittrick Hotel Residences, including a number of rooms themed as living areas for the Macbeths and MacDuffs as well as a cemetery.
  • Floor 4 – The High Street of Gallow Green, a fictional small town in Glamis, Scotland. It consists of a speakeasy bar, a number of storefronts, an interrogation room, and a distorted replica of the Manderley. The storefronts include a detective agency belonging to Malcolm, a taxidermist, a tailor, a mortician, an apothecary, and a sweets shop.
  • Floor 5 – The King James Sanitarium, featuring a number of patient beds, a room with bathtubs, a maze-like garden with a small hut, an operating theater, a padded cell, and a nurse's office.

Part of the sixth floor is a dedicated performance space inspired by the Manderley estate in Rebecca, but this area can only be reached via a specific interaction with one of the cast members.

The set has also been used for other events at the McKittrick, including many of its parties.[36]

The Club Car and Gallow Green

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The sixth floor of the building houses the Club Car, a restaurant made to resemble a 1930s train car. It was originally named the Heath, a reference to the setting of several scenes in Macbeth involving the witches.[37][38] It was later renamed the Club Car to better reflect its theming.[39][40] The small indoor entrance to the sixth floor represents the train stop in a station, with a period advertisement board, train schedule, and newspaper booth. The Club Car operated as a full-service restaurant and included a stage area.[41][3]

Gallow Green is a rooftop bar, with theming varying depending on the season. In the summer, it features a garden theme with lots of plants and open air.[2] In the winter, it is sometimes referred to as "The Lodge at Gallow Green" and has included pine trees, yurts, open fires, and spiced wine.[42] The name Gallow Green is a reference to the Paisley witch trials.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Brantley, Ben (April 13, 2011). "Shakespeare Slept Here, Albeit Fitfully". The New York Times. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Gallow Green | New York Magazine | The Thousand Best". New York Magazine. February 20, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Morabito, Greg (December 13, 2013). "The Heath, Sleep No More's Restaurant Counterpart". Eater NY. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "The Manderley Bar". Time Out New York. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  5. ^ "The McKittrick Hotel – Off-Broadway". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Lang, Brent (October 31, 2024). "'Sleep No More' Sets Final Performance After Closure Was Delayed a Year (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  7. ^ "No Sleep Till..." UrbanDaddy. February 1, 2011. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  8. ^ Piepenburg, Erik (March 16, 2011). "Stage Is Set. Ready for Your Part?". The New York Times. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  9. ^ Solish, Scott (February 2, 2011). "Adaptive Re-uses". Eater NY. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  10. ^ "Our Story". mckittrickhotel.com. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  11. ^ Soloski, Alexis (February 9, 2022). "'Sleep No More' Awakens After a Long Hibernation". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 4, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  12. ^ Jones, Kenneth (May 24, 2011). "Drama Desk Awards Go to Book of Mormon, Normal Heart, War Horse, Sutton Foster, Norbert Leo Butz". Playbill. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  13. ^ "11". Obie Awards. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  14. ^ "Sleep No More by Punchdrunk". www.punchdrunk.com. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  15. ^ "Hypnotique". mckittrickhotel.com. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  16. ^ Soloski, Alexis (November 10, 2023). "Curtains Down, Bottoms Up: When the Show Ends, the Night's Just Getting Started". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 6, 2024. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  17. ^ Chow, Andrew R. (October 18, 2016). "National Theater of Scotland to Bring Prudencia Hart to New York". The New York Times. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  18. ^ "The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart". mckittrickhotel.com. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  19. ^ "The Guilty Party by Supercinema at the McKittrick Hotel". Behind the Scenes NYC. September 7, 2016. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  20. ^ "Clue 2016". mckittrickhotel.com. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  21. ^ "Gatsby 2016". mckittrickhotel.com. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  22. ^ Araujo, Roberto (October 4, 2019). "WATCH: A Look Inside at The McKittrick Hotel's Bartschland Follies". Playbill. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  23. ^ "The McKittrick Hotel Heats Up with Halloween-Themed Inferno". Playbill. October 13, 2015. Archived from the original on April 13, 2021. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  24. ^ Baratian, Bryan (October 28, 2018). ""Inferno" Review – The McKittrick Masquerade". Splash Magazines. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  25. ^ "This Lost Supper won't be lost on you". USA TODAY. July 20, 2018. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  26. ^ Saxena, Jaya (January 17, 2023). "For My Next Trick, Dessert". Eater. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  27. ^ Simmons, Paulanne (October 1, 2023). "Off-Broadway Review: AT THE ILLUSIONIST'S TABLE (The McKittrick Hotel)". Stage and Cinema. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  28. ^ No Proscenium (May 29, 2024). "Review Rundown: Goin' Big Instead of Goin' Home". Medium. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
  29. ^ Feldman, Adam (August 11, 2021). "Speakeasy Magick". TimeOut. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  30. ^ Hall, Margaret (November 19, 2024). "The McKittrick to 'Close Its Doors Forever'; Farewell Parties Planned". Playbill. Archived from the original on November 21, 2024. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  31. ^ Lang, Brent (October 31, 2024). "'Sleep No More' Sets Final Performance After Closure Was Delayed a Year (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  32. ^ "The Nightmare Before Christmas". mckittrickhotel.com. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  33. ^ "Halloween 2023". mckittrickhotel.com. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  34. ^ Tapogna, Maximilian (November 6, 2023). "Down the rabbit hole at the McKittrick Hotel". Document Journal. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  35. ^ "Manderley Bar". New York City Tourism + Conventions. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  36. ^ Baxter, David (November 15, 2018). "Inferno at The McKittrick Hotel Gives Occult Themed Revelries!". Manhattan Digest. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  37. ^ The Arden Macbeth 1.1.6, 1.3.77
  38. ^ Clark, Sandra; Mason, Pamela (2015). Macbeth. The Arden Shakespeare. London New York: Bloomsbury Arden Shakespeare. ISBN 978-1-904271-41-3.
  39. ^ "All Aboard The Club Car At The McKittrick Hotel". Drink Me. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  40. ^ "The Club Car at The McKittrick Hotel". mckittrickhotel.com. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  41. ^ "The Heath (at McKittrick Hotel)". TimeOut. November 25, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  42. ^ Bahamondes, Bianca (January 27, 2022). "Gallow Green's Cozy Winter Rooftop, The Hideout, Has Officially Reopened". Secret NYC. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
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