Drama Book Shop Opens Gilbert Parker Studio
The new space at the Drama Book Shop on West 39th Street was inaugurated with Lin-Manuel Miranda and Thomas Kail in attendance.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Dance
The Drama Book Shop opened The Gilbert Parker Studio, a flexible performance and rehearsal space on West 39th Street, with Lin-Manuel Miranda and Thomas Kail attending the opening. The studio is named for the late theatrical literary agent Gilbert Parker.
Why it matters
The studio gives artists in New York City a dedicated space to gather, collaborate, experiment, and develop new theatrical work. Its opening also replaces the bookstore's former 60-seat Arthur Seelen Theatre on West 40th Street with a new home for the theater community.
The studio seats up to 50 audience members, down from the 60-seat capacity of the former Arthur Seelen Theatre at the bookstore's prior West 40th Street location. Pricing and booking terms have not been disclosed beyond the venue's website.
The players
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Lin-Manuel Miranda is a Tony- and Pulitzer-winning playwright and composer best known for Hamilton and In the Heights, and a longtime friend of Gilbert Parker.
Thomas Kail
Thomas Kail is a Tony-winning theatre director who directed Hamilton and was a mentee of Gilbert Parker.
The details
The studio includes sound and lighting technical support and a dressing room accessible off the performance space. Posters from productions by Parker's clients hang on the walls of the bookstore, and the space is open to both established and emerging artists.
Timeline
November 12, 2026: The Gilbert Parker Studio opens at the Drama Book Shop.
2012: The Gilbert Parker Endowed Wesleyan Scholarship is established by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Thomas Kail.
Legacy Tribute
The studio extends the 2012 Gilbert Parker Endowed Wesleyan Scholarship, also established by Miranda and Kail, from an academic award into a working performance space. It continues a pattern of honoring Parker through institutions tied to his mentorship of theatre artists.
Artists can inquire about rental rates and availability through the Drama Book Shop's website, which lists booking details for the studio. Audiences can attend performances held in the space, which seats up to 50 people.
The takeaway
Dedicated rehearsal and performance spaces are vital for emerging theatre artists in New York City. The Gilbert Parker Studio offers a model for how venues can honor a mentor while supporting new work.
Further reading
Explore more New York City Dance coverage for context on the city's rehearsal and performance spaces.
More information
Check rental rates and booking information for The Gilbert Parker Studio on the Drama Book Shop website.
