An Afternoon At AMT Theater: New Non-Profit With True Nuance, Nostalgia
An Afternoon At AMT Theater: A New Non-Profit Theater with True Nuance and Nostalgia
Editor’s note: Cindy Mich has previously interviewed the founder of the Jim Thorpe Independent Film Festival. She also interviewed a Holocaust survivor who turned tragedy into triumph. The event in the below flyer runs from today until tomorrow. Contact the theater for more details
In late January, I spent some time speaking with Tony Sportiello, Artistic Director, and Pete Dorton, Film Producer, about the backstory and big new plans for the theater.
As a bit of background on Tony, he has produced four Off Broadway musicals. He is a published playwright and the author of more than two dozen plays, with productions in New York, Los Angeles, London, Russia, China and more. Further, Sportiello is also a television writer/producer/editor with more than twenty years of experience in the post production industry. As for Pete, past history found him holding the Founder title of both YOLO and Big League Theater Company. He would go on to showcase several original plays, and even put on a production on Theater Row.
His eventual move into making movies took him away from theater for a long while, but he is now excited to be back – marrying the two mediums in his happy place. Alongside being at AMT, he will still remain working within the acting world, and may even decide to go down the directing road sooner than later. See below for the full interview.
The AMT Theater has been open for two and a half years, and it took some time for the owners to find the best venue for this labor of love. They had looked at numerous spots that were bigger and cheaper that they turned down due to their location not being in Midtown Manhattan. Al Topper, the financier, was very adamant that his dream project be placed in the heart of the Theater District. He is an entrepreneur, inventor, composer, award winning documentarian, and filmmaker who brings a great deal to this endeavor. Since this search occurred during the pandemic, there were not many places open to tour. At the time Al acquired this spot, it was being used as a tango place. Although it needed some modifications, Al gave the green light and AMT had a home.
The majority of what they produce is mostly new, original work – but also rent out their space to other productions. Previous on-stage productions have been musicals, cabarets, plays, and some recitals.
Turning towards offerings for children, AMT has had five youth theater programs to date, and all run by an actual working director since 2022. This theater is a haven for young writers, actors and directors, and participants range in age from 6 to 14. They are all too aware that the future is going to be seen through different eyes, and are intent on encouragement of these artisans. Additionally, AMT held their first on-site film festival last year.
As to who handles what at the theater, I am told there is no one real role for any person. Everyone is in charge of everything. These artists are changing the world with their creativity. They are aware of how often rejection and vulnerability are a regular part of an artist’s life. If they are able to affect others in a positive way, or can help change one’s outlook – they have done their job.
The entire crew that manages this majestic theater must be doing something right, as AMT is already being bestowed awards. Tony seems to believe that their main mission helps to get them attention – providing an impressive looking theater to the NY population. They are fanatical about cleanliness inside their doors, so no food or drink are allowed while watching a production. Seats, bathrooms, and rehearsal rooms are as immaculate as possible. They strive to offer elegant, tasteful entertainment.
When I asked about the upcoming productions put in place, Tony mentioned both their Valentine’s Day film event and premiere of a new musical comedy, which is set for March. On February 14, 2025, AMT will be showing a total of twenty-four films. These are recycled shorts whose time in the festival circuit has completed. They hope to help give these projects a new life. March 7, 2025 is the debut of “Upside Down”, which finds two writers trying to make a Broadway hit by turning the world on its head. Taking what is real and turning it into an absurd reality. Truly offers a peek into what a marginalized community has to deal with on a daily basis.
If you are asking yourself, what are AMT’s goals for the next year? Well, their hope is to assist many more creatives in having a backdrop to host their creations. Their rentals are not inexpensive, but staff tries to favor those with little means. Tony has talked about the inclusion of teaching workshops in 2025 or 2026. Also, since this non-profit theater is now rented out until January of 2026, this allows more time for the staff to properly plan a fundraiser.
The below film festival starts tonight at 7. Details provided by Abingdon Theatre Company:
Raise the Page, Uplift the Word: A BIPOC Festival of Short Plays, in partnership with AMT Theater, will be held in person for the first time in the festival’s five-year history. The festival spotlights stories written by BIPOC playwrights, with a mission to continue creating opportunities for all voices to be heard. In efforts to make theatre more accessible, tickets to the festival will be free to the public, now available at www.abingdontheatre.org/fsp-2025.
The schedule for Raise the Page, Uplift the Word: A BIPOC Festival of Short Plays will be as follows:
Day 1: February 15, 2025 at 7PM will feature Uncut by Gloria Majule and Re: Writing by Caitlin Frazier.
Day 2: February 16, 2025 at 3PM will feature Flame White by Maximillian Gill, What I Owe Myself by Michael Mobley, and Mouthwater Lozenges by Cori Diaz.
Please help the NYC community continue to bring dreams to life by supporting this theater. To lean more, visit: AMT Theater | times square theater | 354 West 45th Street, New York, NY, USA
AMT Theater. Image Credit – Cindy Mich
AMT Theater. Image Credit – Cindy Mich
Banner Image: AMT Theater. Image Credit – Cindy Mich
Cindy Mich
Cindy Mich is an award-winning journalist/media personality who is also a filmmaker and Founder of the independent film festival, Art is Alive, now in its seventh year. Her total listening audience is at 205,000 to date. In print, she currently contributes to various digital publications, along with having owned and operated her own publication, The Art is Alive Magazine. After eight issues, her readership was at 78,000. She performs the duties of a professional film judge, having screened over 800 films in the last few years - along with covering various film festivals as accredited media. Further, she has taught in both the public and private sector. In 2023, Cindy is adding a distribution arm to her film festival, and soon will be releasing her made for television series on medical misdiagnosis, Hurt by Healthcare.
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