Magnet Theater
2005-present · New York, NY
Armando Diaz, Ed Herbstman, Shannon Manning and Alex Marino's 2005 NYC theater — considered the world epicenter of musical improvisation.
Known for
- Founded March 2005 by Armando Diaz, Ed Herbstman, Shannon Manning and Alex Marino — all Chicago trained (Del Close at iO, Napier at Annoyance, Second City Conservatory).
- Home of the Magnet Musical Improv program and the New York Musical Improv Festival.
- Named for the Armando-format monologue-driven long-form that Diaz originated in Chicago; 'The Armando' runs weekly.
- Training Center briefly closed during the pandemic (July 2020); classes relocated to Michael Howard Studios before resuming. Main 254 W. 29th St. performance venue in Chelsea remains active.
Connected to
People
armando diazed herbstman
Schools & Theaters
Forms
the armando
Notes
Research brief flagged a possible 2023 closure; web sources through January 2026 show Magnet still operating at 254 W. 29th St. The 2020 Training Center space closure may be the event being conflated. Verify with primary source before publishing any closure claim.