The former Bank of New York headquarters, located in Manhattan’s Financial District, may do a complete 180–it’s thinking of filling its 19,000-square-feet-worth of space with trapezes and tightropes instead of tellers and ATM machines as it considers transforming its space into a circus!
The unnamed show hopes to open long-term in the lobby of the former bank, treating attendees to nightly immersive cirque performances. Simon Painter, who specializes in 3G entertainment, or “entertainment for three generations of one family,” is the one behind it. Producer of the magic show The Illusionists, Painter described the potential cirque show as “upscale” and “family-friendly” and is specifically excited about the prospect of it heading to the Financial District.
The show, which would feature 25 real-life high-wire acts donned in circa-1920s costumes, will take viewers back in time to 1925–and the former bank’s historical architecture, which dates back to 1927, provides the perfect backdrop. And being the building is currently used as an event space why not throw some acrobats in there?!
Tribeca Citizen writes that anywhere between one and four 80-minute shows will be preformed for a crowd of 550 each night. Entertainment and dining will be on the ground floor and the mezzanine will house a bar.
Painter told Community Board 1’s Licensing Committee:
Think of this, historically, a bit like if Hamilton put on a circus. A big extravagant cirque show — like you’d see in Las Vegas…The show will appeal to ages 10 to 100.
We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again–you never know what to expect in New York City! And while we await the show’s potential opening, we can travel back in time 4,500 years ago–wayyy past 1925–to Ancient Egypt at the thrilling VR experience Horizon Of Khufu.
📍 48 Wall Street