UPTOWNflavor

Aaron Davis Hall is now known as Harlem Stage at The Gatehouse. The facility will not only be sporting a new name but they will also relocate across Convent Avenue into the formerly vacant, newly renovated space known as The Gatehouse.

The Gatehouse, located at 150 Convent Avenue on the southwest corner of Convent and 135th Street was originally a pumping station used to distribute water from the Croton Aqueduct in Westchester County. It is a Romanesque revival building built between 1884-1890. The building was designated a landmark in 1981 yet it has been unoccupied since 1984.

The Gatehouse has been transformed into a state-of-the-art performance space with a 199 seat theater, de-mountable platform seating and stages, rehearsal and office space within the two story fully restored structure.

The official opening is not until October but there will be pre-opening events leading up to the premier season of artistic offerings. August 27th “Jazz for Jazz” will take place from 2-7 p.m. A panel discussion moderated by WNYC radio host Leonard Lopate will take place on September 21 from 6-8 p.m. titled, “Visioning Harlem: Art, Culture, Place” and will explore how the character of community can be preserved and strengthened. The discussion will be followed up with tours of The Gatehouse. The “Up South International Book Festival” will be hosted at the new Harlem Stage for 4 days at the end September.

New programming initiatives will be part of the The Gatehouse’s offerings: WaterWorks, Harlem Stride and Harlem Stage Partners. Harlem Stride, which takes its name from a group of distinguished musicians who defined the stride (piano) movement in the 1920s often attributed to Fats Waller and James P. Johnson, will begin in February 2007. The programs will feature performances by recognized masters of the piano paired with younger players. The first will be Randy Weston and Andrew Hill.

Check the Harlem Stage website on 8/27/06 for the official relaunch.