Brooklyn Academy of Music

The Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) is a special place in Brooklyn, New York City, where many different kinds of art come together. You can watch plays, see dancing, listen to music, enjoy operas, or watch movies—all in several nearby buildings.

BAM started a long time ago, in 1859, and showed its first performance in 1861. The main building where it happens today was opened in 1908, in an area called Fort Greene, Brooklyn. It is a group that is supported by people who want to help it stay open and strong, which is called a not-for-profit corporation and has a special kind of help called 501(c)(3) status.

History

The Brooklyn Academy of Music started in 1859 when a group of people in Brooklyn wanted a special place for music, literature, and science. They got permission from the government and raised money to build their first hall, which opened in 1861. The first concert featured music from famous operas.

After the original building burned down in 1903, they built a new one in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, which opened in 1908. This new place hosted operas, dances, and even religious talks. Over the years, BAM grew and changed, adding new theaters and festivals. In the 1960s, it started new programs and a bus service to bring people from Manhattan. Today, BAM continues to offer many kinds of performances in several buildings.

People

Many famous artists have performed at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). Some of these artists include Philip Glass, Trisha Brown, Peter Brook, Pina Bausch, Merce Cunningham, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company, Laurie Anderson, Lee Breuer, ETHEL, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Steve Reich, Seal, Mark Morris, Robert Wilson, Peter Sellars, BLACKstreet, Ingmar Bergman, David Van Tieghem, Michael Moschen, Twyla Tharp, Ralph Lemon, Ivo van Hove, and the Mariinsky Theater.

Some well-known music groups and singers have also recorded special live albums at BAM. The American punk band Hole recorded one of their live albums there in 1995. Singer Tori Amos performed for MTV Unplugged at BAM in 1996. The band Alice in Chains recorded their Unplugged album there in 1996, and Alanis Morissette recorded hers in 1999.

Facilities

The Peter Jay Sharp Building in the Fort Greene Historic District includes the Howard Gilman Opera House and the BAM Rose Cinemas. Designed by the firm Herts & Tallant in 1908, it has a gray granite base and cream colored brick with terracotta and marble details. The opera house has 2,109 seats, and the cinemas, opened in 1998, show new, independent, and classic films.

The BAM Strong includes the 874-seat BAM Harvey Theater, which was built in 1904 and once showed vaudeville and films. The BAM Fisher Building, opened in 2012, has a 250-seat black box theater and spaces for rehearsals and performances. The BAM Hamm Archives and the Shelby White & Leon Levy BAM Digital Archive are also available. The BAM Sharp and Fisher Buildings are part of the Brooklyn Academy of Music Historic District, created by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1978. BAM is close to downtown Brooklyn, near Atlantic Terminal, the Barclays Center arena, and the Williamsburgh Savings Bank Tower.

Notable productions

The Brooklyn Academy of Music, often called BAM, is a special place in Brooklyn, New York City, where many different kinds of shows happen. It is known for presenting new and exciting kinds of performances, including theater, dance, music, opera, and films. People have been enjoying shows at BAM since it started in 1859, and it has been at its current location in the Fort Greene area of Brooklyn since 1908.