From 2002 through 2004, the
National Actors Theatre (NAT), founded by actor
Tony Randall – dedicated to presenting classic works of theater and theatrical education delivered at no cost to the students or their schools, was housed at the center; the center was the site of Tony Randall's final performance, as the
raisonneur Laudisi in a production of the
Luigi Pirandello play
Right You Are (if you think so). The Schimmel Center was a founding venue for both the
Tribeca Film Festival and the short-lived Tribeca Theater Festival. The center has hosted events of the River-to-River Festival, the
New York International Fringe Festival (FringeNYC), and numerous other productions. In 2005 the center presented the New York premiere of the
Beijing People's Art Theatre's signature work
Tea House. Between 2009 and 2011,
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre (London) performed at the center. Beginning in 2002, the
Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) has held regular public meetings at the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts to discuss the future of Lower Manhattan and the
World Trade Center. Most notably on January 13–14, 2003, the LMDC and the
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey held an unprecedented public meeting at the Schimmel Center unveiling the nine possible plans for the World Trade Center site and memorial. Televised on
NY1, the meeting was linked to
Long Island and all
five boroughs of the City of New York. New Yorkers had a chance to comment at any of six locations, broadcast simultaneously to each site; thousands more from around the globe participated online at the LMDC website. In September 2003, the
Democratic Party held a televised presidential candidates debate at the Schimmel Center. All ten declared Democratic candidates for the presidential nomination, including the first and only debate appearance by General
Wesley Clark, participated. Other candidates were
Howard Dean,
John Edwards,
Dick Gephardt,
Bob Graham,
John Kerry,
Dennis Kucinich,
Joseph Lieberman,
Carol Moseley-Braun, and
Al Sharpton. In March 2005, the
Democratic Policy Committee of the
United States Senate held the kick-off event of the National Social Security Tour at Schimmel. The town meeting style event, which was covered by
C-SPAN, included senators
Hillary Clinton,
Byron Dorgan,
Richard Durbin,
John Kerry,
Frank Lautenberg,
Harry Reid, and
Charles Schumer. In 2006, New York State Governor
George E. Pataki and New York City Mayor
Michael Bloomberg announced that the LMDC would award $27.4 million in cultural enhancement grants to 63 Lower Manhattan arts organizations and projects. Pace University's Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts was awarded $500,000 for renovations to improve public
access for people with disabilities, enhance the lobby art gallery, and upgrade the theatre's technical and backstage facilities. During the summer months of 2006, Pace University hosted three New York state candidate debates and three town hall meetings which were broadcast live by NY1. ==References==