The Terrence McNally Theater at Rattlestick

Our Home Has a New Name

We are proud to announce that our building at 224 Waverly Place, Rattlestick's home in the heart of the West Village, is being renamed The Terrence McNally Theater, honoring the late Tony Award-winning playwright and enduring giant of the American stage.


The renaming was made in partnership with the Terrence McNally Foundation, and reflects a relationship that has only deepened over the years. Since 2023, Rattlestick has been home to the Terrence McNally New Works Incubator, a program built in the spirit of Terrence's lifelong commitment to mentorship and bold new voices, offering early-career playwrights time, space, professional guidance, and access to a thriving community of artists.

"As the first transgender person to run a theater in New York, it is the honor of a lifetime to name the Rattlestick building for Terrence McNally, a towering artist and a gay icon of the American Theater," said Artistic Director Will Davis. "Terrence was with Rattlestick from the start, and for 32 years this theater company has offered a downtown refuge for artists seeking a space that welcomes them on their own terms. Terrence's community values and keen eye for talent are alive in the DNA of this company that has launched so many powerhouse careers over the last three decades."


Tom Kirdahy, producer and Terrence McNally's husband, spoke to what the name means: "Rattlestick Theater has always been a place where playwrights begin, where a writer with something to say finds the stage, the collaborators, and the courage to say it. Naming this theater after Terrence McNally is not just a tribute to what he accomplished. It is a commitment to what he stood for. This is where tomorrow's playwrights begin."

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For more information and for updates about the renovation click the link below

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Donations

We hope you will make a fully tax-deductible contribution to help us name Rattlestick's renovated theater in honor of Terrence McNally. No donation is too large or too small, and we welcome a gift of any amount as we aim to match our $500,000 challenge grant. Participants at the following levels will be recognized as part of a thoughtfully designed tribute to Terrence in our new second-floor lobby. 

  • $25,000— A named seat in our new theater, a commemorative framed rendering of the new Rattlestick Theater facade, two complimentary tickets to a special evening of Terrence's work as well as two complimentary tickets to all Rattlestick openings for the first two seasons in our new building,  a private tour of the building before we open our doors, an invitation to an intimate building dedication ceremony, and a primary listing on the Terrence McNally plaque.

  • $10,000—A commemorative framed rendering of the Rattlestick Theater facade, two complimentary tickets to all Rattlestick openings for the first season in our new building,  a private tour of the building before we open our doors, an invitation to an intimate building dedication ceremony, and priority listing on the Terrence McNally plaque.

  • $5,000—An invitation to an intimate building dedication ceremony and listing on the Terrence McNally plaque.

Additional gifts will be recognized in Rattlestick's theater program.

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