The Egg

Address	Empire State Plaza
Location	Albany, NY 12220 USA
Coordinates	42°39′02″N 73°45′30″W / 42.6505°N 73.7584°W / 42.6505; -73.7584
Owner	Empire State Plaza
Type	Performing arts center
Capacity	Lewis A. Swyer Theatre: 450 Kitty Carlisle Hart Theatre: 982
Opened	1978
Website
www.theegg.org

The Egg is a performing arts venue in Albany, New York. Named for its shape, the building was designed by Harrison & Abramovitz as part of the Empire State Plaza project, and built between 1966 and 1978. It is located in the northeast corner of the Plaza.^[1] It has become an icon of New York's Capital District due to its unusual shape and central location. The Egg is owned by the state of New York and managed by the Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza Performing Arts Center Corporation^[2] a not-for-profit that was created in 1979 to manage the performing arts facility in the Empire State Plaza.^[3][4]

Organization

The Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza Performing Arts Center Corporation is governed by an 11-member board of directors. The board is chosen by the New York State Governor, the New York State Senate, the New York State Assembly, the Albany County Executive, and also has a member from the New York State Office of General Services.^[5] In 2017, the corporation had operating expenses of $1.96 million and a staffing level of 43 people.^[6]

Structure

The Egg is slightly inclined, and has a small pedestal on which it appears to sit. In fact, the building is held by a stem that goes down six stories into the Plaza. Attached to this stem is a concrete girdle that surrounds The Egg, enabling it to retain its shape and transmitting its weight to the pedestal.^[1] The building's organic shape reflects Nelson Rockefeller's original goal of architectural design that uses the fine artistic elements of sculpture.^[7]

The Egg houses two theaters, the 450-seat Lewis A. Swyer Theatre and the 982-seat Kitty Carlisle Hart Theatre.^[1]

Programming

In April 1978, the Empire State Youth Theatre Institute became the first resident company. Two years later, The Egg launched its first slate of full cultural programming, with a 10-month season of theatre, dance and other performing arts presentations.^[8]

In March 1980, Capital Repertory Theatre debuted at The Egg, with a production of George M. Cohan's The Tavern, starring Court Miller, Sofia Landon Geier, Patricia Charbonneau and Steve Hytner. ^[9][10]

Since 1990, the Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company, a modern dance performing arts group, has been a resident company.^[11] The Egg is also the summer home of the Ajkun Ballet Theatre, a New York City based professional company, since 2000.^{[citation needed]}

The venue draws many performing acts to Albany, including music, dance, and traditional stage presentations.^{[citation needed]}

In popular culture

• The Egg is the subject of a song by They Might Be Giants, entitled "Albany", which was written for their 2004 Venue Songs compilation album.^[12]
• In 2013, Mike Gordon of Phish released a live album titled The Egg. The album was recorded live on December 11, 2011 at The Egg.^[13]
• The Egg is the setting for indie rock singer-songwriter Mitski's 2021 music video for the single "Working for the Knife".
• Notable artists who have performed at The Egg include: Roger McGuinn, Chaka Khan, Dave Chappelle, Eric Burdon, Bebel Gilberto, WAR, David Byrne, Boz Scaggs, Margaret Cho, Buddy Guy, Leon Russell, Marty Stuart,Brian Regan, the Mark Morris Dance Company, and New Riders of the Purple Sage.^[14]