History - WAX the Building (1999 - 2004)

WAX came to life in 1999 when circumstance brought co-founders Marisa Beatty, Brian Brooks, Melissa Rodnon and David Tirosh together with the opportunity to convert and manage a one story warehouse building in the heart of Williamsburg’s burgeoning arts community.

With negligible capital, the newly titled WAX Directors renovated 205 North 7th Street to accommodate rehearsal and a professional white-box theater. The Marley was laid, walls raised, electricity wired, plumbing installed, tech booth constructed, lighting and sound systems rigged and audience seating acquired to complete the transformation from storehouse to stage. While rehearsal and performance spaces in Manhattan continued to close from skyrocketing real estate prices, WAX quietly welcomed a steady stream of artists to come create, prepare, invent, share, polish, explore, refine, experiment and ultimately present their vision to eager audiences. Thousands of watts lit up the stage for the first performance on September 15, 2000.

From September 2000 to October 2004, WAX served as a multidisciplinary arts hub providing affordable rehearsal space, a visual arts gallery and a fully equipped, professional theater for productions in all artistic disciplines. During that time, over 250 artists made use of our low cost performance space for their creative endeavors. Nearly 500 creative minds have participated in WAXworks and Bridge programming. If you include rehearsal clients, collaborators, visual artists and audiences, the WAX family numbers in the thousands. [yes, that counts Rena, Louis, Mary and all the stoop sitters at 203].

They say all good things must come to an end. In 2004, our landlord, convinced that condos are more lucrative than the arts, sold the building to developers. Rather than be soured by real estate, the WAX directors decided to make lemonade out of lemons: regroup, recoup and redefine themselves and the organization.

On October 30, WAX celebrated the fruits of five years at its home on North 7th street. Many of WAX’s favorite artists returned to share the stage one last time in Harvest, a four course performance meal. We toasted the past and planned for the future: if all good things must come to an end, then we believe all good ends lead to new beginnings

History - WAX: Phase II (2005 and beyond)

After moving out of the WAX building, Executive Director Marisa Beatty and Associate Director Jaclyn Moynahan spearheaded WAX: Phase II, forging partnerships with spaces throughout the city where WAX programming could hit the stage. In May 2006, WAX concluded its first Phase II residency at University Settlement. Beginning Fall 2006, WAXworks and Bridge programming will take place at Triskelion Arts - 118 North 11th Street (between Berry and Wythe), 3rd Floor, BKNY 11211.

Phase II also witnessed the birth of our newest program, Sugar Salon, dedicated supporting women choreographers through commissioning, mentorship, and residency opportunities as well as the development of a new collective organization, the New Williasmburg Performance Alliance (New WPA).

WAX in the news...

WAX has been fortunate over the years to receive the attention of New York's notable news-hounds. Curious? Check out our most recent article in October's Brooklyn Rail.

That not enough? Here's what some other folks have said about us...

"...well, this IS a nice theater. An intimate black box, the seats descending on the proscenium, but not a nappy one: clean and simple, with about the most comfortable wooden chair backs I've ever sat in in a theater. It seats about 64." - Paul Ben-Itzak, "Lemons for Loveliness" (2000, The Dance Insider)

"Williamsburg Art Nexus (WAX), which opened in September at 205 North 7th Street and is already booked solid through June, is among the applicants for these funds. WAX is a collective formed by Marisa Beatty, Brian Brooks, Melissa Rodnon, and David Tirosh, performing artists in their twenties who have made it their mission to create a viable, attractive performance venue in Brooklyn. Built in the 1950s as a factory, probably making garbage disposal parts, the one-story structure housed a small theater group until December 1999, when WAX took over the lease. The place was a shambles. The founders scraped together $13,000 to cover rent, security, and insurance, and began extensive renovations. So far, they've rewired the electricity, built a technical booth, stripped water-damaged boards from the ceiling to expose wood beams, installed a professional lighting grid, converted illegal living quarters into offices and dressing rooms, and created an art gallery at the building's entrance." - Jody Sperling, "Upward and Outward for the Arts" (2001, The Village Voice)

"Williamsburg is booming. Centered around Bedford Avenue, one subway stop from Manhattan's East Village, this Brooklyn community has gradually become New York's pre-eminent bohemian colony....WAX, or Williamsburg Art neXus is the home to performances - everything from tap to stand up comedy - almost every weekend of the year." - Chris Dohse, "The Happening Neighborhood" (2002, Dance Magazine's 25 to Watch edition)

"The most visible addition was the Williamsburg Art Nexus, a black box theater affectionately known as WAX. A refuge for up-and-coming choreographers that opened in 2000, it reflected the neighborhood's freewheeling, do-it-yourself roots. No site dedicated to dance has emerged in the area with the visibility and professionalism WAX had..." - Erika Kinetz, "Dance's Vanguard Stakes Out Brooklyn" (2005, The New York Times)

"On November 30, Williamsburg Art neXus will close its doors. Mercifully, the organization formed in 1999 by four performing artists - Marisa Beatty, Brian Brooks, Melissa Rodnon and David Tirosh - will not disappear entirely. WAX, as it is affectionatetly known, will continue its mission of supporting emerging choreographers by fine tuning its management structure. The ultimate goal is to reopen a professional arts facility in the future." - Gia Kourlas, "Turning Points: Melting WAX" (2005, Time Out New York)