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In a very New York-like use of real estate, 48 Wall Street, the former headquarters of the Bank of New York down in the Financial District of Manhattan, might soon become the site of a new immersive circus-like production by producer Simon Painter, the brains behind magic show The Illusionists.
The 19,000-square-foot address, currently used as an event space, is just a couple of blocks away from yet another immersive experience set up in a downtown bank: Life and Trust, mounted at 69 Beaver Street by the creators of the soon-to-be-defunct Sleep No More.
According to Tribeca Citizen, the first to report the news about the still-unnamed new production, the experience will be set in 1925, telling the story of a wealthy man's son inheritance of the bank and his desire to "put on an extravagant cirque show" within it.
In addition to 1920s characters "mingling around the space during the pre-show," according to the outlet, ticket holders will be treated to astounding high-wire acts from around the world, plus dining offerings on the ground floor and a mezzanine bar.
"This is the only venue I have ever seen in New York that is perfect for the concept," Painter said to the licensing committee of Community Board 1 during a recent meeting. "Normally we have to spend $50 million making a building that looks like this. We are very lucky with this one because it already looks like the place we imagined."
Tribeca Citizen reports that the producer hopes to put on one to four 80-minute shows per night, with 550 seats available in the round, each one catering to all sorts of spectators.
"The show will appeal to ages 10 to 100," Painter said to the committee.
We'll be honest: we can't think of a more New York show at the moment and can't wait to see how the story develops.