Prelude Is the Main Event

The fifth annual Prelude festival, a free event featuring new works by more than 20 of New York’s contemporary theatre artists, will be presented Sept. 24–27 at Manhattan’s Martin E. Segal Theatre Center at the City University of New York Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Ave. (at 34th Street).

Participants include Richard Foreman, Big Art Group, NYC Players, Builders Association, Jenny Schwartz and NTUSA. Curated by Andy Horwitz and Geoffrey Scott, Prelude ’08 focuses on how the space—especially nontraditional space—where a work is presented affects the context, considering various aspects of theatre, dance, performance art, spoken word, and multimedia.

All performances, running from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. each day, are free on a first-come, first-served basis. Information: (212) 817-1860 or www.preludenyc.org.