"Orange Is the New Black" Is Back!

Today Netflix released the seventh and final season of "Orange Is the New Black." The popular series chronicles Piper Chapman's adventures behind bars at the fictional Litchfield Correctional Institution. The real-life setting of Litchfield is the former Arthur Kill Correctional Facility, which is now the home of Staten Island Stages.

When we began developing the property we envisioned a state-of-the-art facility that would be the perfect backdrop for prison-set television programs and films. As a business that cares deeply about supporting our community, we hired local vendors and suppliers and are proud to boost the local economy.

We are excited to see our hard work pay off on "Orange Is the New Black," and we hope you enjoy watching the final season as much as we do. Congratulations to the show's creators and stars on seven amazing seasons, and thank you for being a part of the Broadway Stages family.

Check out the trailer here!

"When They See Us" Nabs 16 Emmy Nominations!

"When They See Us," Ava DuVernay's powerful four-part miniseries about the Central Park Five, will compete for Outstanding Limited Series and 15 other awards at the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards on September 22.

The show's creators spent weeks filming inside Staten Island's shuttered Arthur Kill Correctional Facility, which Broadway Stages converted into a state-of-the-art soundstage known as Staten Island Stages. The authentic prison setting helped the actors get into character, letting them experience what it must have felt like inside the prison cells where five young men spent years behind bars for a crime they did not commit.

Eight different stars of the Netflix miniseries earned Emmy nominations, including Jharrel Jerome for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie and Aunjanue Ellis and Niecy Nash, who will compete against each other for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie. Congratulations as well to Asante Blackk, Marsha Stephanie Blake, Vera Farmiga, John Leguizamo, and Michael K. Williams for their nominations in supporting roles. With all of those fantastic performances, it is no surprise that the show also got a nod for Outstanding Casting for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special. DuVernay is also in the running in the Directing and Writing categories for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special. The Emmys also recognized the miniseries with nominations for Music Composition, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, and Cinematography.

Broadway Stages is also happy to congratulate "Orange Is the New Black" star Laverne Cox for her Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series nomination. The former Arthur Kill Correctional Facility also provided the backdrop for the seventh and final season of that Netflix hit.

We could not be more thrilled to be associated with these critically acclaimed, groundbreaking shows. Best of luck to all nominees, and tune in on September 22 to see who wins.

"Orange Is the New Black" Returns in One Week!

Only one week until Piper, Crazy Eyes, Taystee, and the rest of your favorite inmates return to Netflix for their final season! How will Piper and Sophia fare on the outside? What will happen to Blanca? How will Copeland celebrate winning the fantasy inmate league? Find out on Friday, July 26.

Broadway Stages is proud to offer an actual former prison as the stand-in for Litchfield Correctional Institution. And we continue to work to expand the campus and bring economic growth to Staten Island. Most recently, our Staten Island facility has provided an authentic prison setting for television shows like "Orange Is the New Black" and movies like "Ocean's 8."

Watch the trailer for the final season here, and don't forget to tune in on Friday, July 26.

A Peek Inside the Arthur Kill Prison at Staten Island Stages, LLC

The Business Insider was given a special sneak peek inside the Arthur Kill Prison at the Staten Island Stages, LLC facility on Staten Island. Shows and films like "Orange is the New Black," "Daredevil," and "Ocean's 8" have used this facility as a backdrop for their story lines, needing an authentic penitentiary vibe.  

The 69-acre Arthur Kill campus, located in the Charleston section of Staten Island, was acquired in 2017. Plans are underway for upgrades and construction of additional sound stages. We're excited to see the full potential of this facility and to realize the economic growth it will bring to Staten Island.  

Check out the story and take your own sneak peek inside the Arthur Kill Prison at The Business Insider.

New York Film and Television Production Reaches Historic Highs

A Memo From New York
In this month's e-newsletter distributed by the New York Governor's Office of Motion Picture & Television Development, Broadway Stages and the other film and television production companies that call New York home were commended for reaching historic highs in film and television production and contributing to economic growth. With 56 projects currently filming on sound stages and streetscapes across New York state, this has been a stellar year for the industry, representing a combined $2.1 billion and more than 106,000 hires.

Broadway Stages - Our Contribution to the Industry
Broadway Stages has 53 studios in operation across three boroughs – Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island – and three more under construction. We are currently hosting 21 productions including "Blue Bloods," "Madam Secretary," "The Blacklist," "Bull," and "FBI" to name just a few. We are also gearing up for ABC’s "The Godfather of Harlem," a limited series to air on the Epix channel.

Broadway Stages is striving to meet the growing needs of the industry, while at the same time investing in the communities where we work. Our 2017 acquisition of the former 69-acre Arthur Kill Correctional Facility located in the Charleston section of Staten Island is estimated to create 1,500 jobs over the next several years. With an initial investment of $7 million to purchase the property, Broadway Stages plans to invest more than $20 million in private funds to update the campus. In addition, Broadway Stages will provide free shop space to Local United Scenic Artists (USA) 829 for their scenic artist apprenticeship program.

With one of five proposed sound stages completed and planning underway for the others, we are confident interest will continue to grow. Prior to any renovations, the prison facility had already been used by major Hollywood production companies for its authenticity and real "prison feel," including shows and films like "Orange is the New Black" and "Oceans 8."

We have also purchased property in the Village of Hastings-on-Hudson to meet growing film production demands. A prime location for filming, we anticipate the area will continue to benefit from the positive effect of economic growth derived by the film and television industry.

Broadway Stages - Our Contribution to the Community                                                                 
As a company with local roots, we understand the needs of our community and the importance of giving back. Our commitment to community is actionable and runs deep. Together with our clients, we have employed thousands of people and have created hundreds of local jobs. We are dedicated to giving back to our community through education, the arts, and environmentally focused programs. We are hyperlocal focused and whenever possible work with local businesses and vendors for our production needs. And we actively demonstrate our commitment to sustainability with our recycling program, rooftop solar panels, farms and gardens, and related educational programs. For more information, follow us at Broadway Stages News. To read the entire article in the September E-Newsletter of the NY Governor’s Office of Motion Picture & Television Development, click here.                                                                 

"Orange Is the New Black" Films Sixth Season Inside Broadway Stages' Arthur Kill Prison on Staten Island

Since acquiring the Arthur Kill Correctional Facility on Staten Island in 2017, Broadway Stages has opened the grounds to film crews like that of "Blindspot," "Ocean’s 8," and "Orange Is the New Black."

Filming at a former correctional facility, where reminders of its former inhabitants are etched in the walls, brings authenticity and creates a sense of reality for the actors.

Broadway Stages plans to invest $20 million into the renovation of the 67-acre, 400-cell prison, but much of the property will remain genuine. Within the first five years, Broadway Stages foresees the creation of more than 1,300 on-site jobs and 350 construction jobs to support improvements and expansion at the Staten Island location.  For the full article by Meghan Giannotta with amNY.com, click here.