Intimate Shakespeare & Chamber Music
WHAT’S ON
Casa Duse is a historic parlor townhouse in the heart of Park Slope, facing Prospect Park across from the Brooklyn Library and Grand Army Plaza — now reimagined as an intimate performance space.
The house takes its name from the legendary Italian actress Eleonora Duse (1858–1924), its original owner, and still carries her spirit in every room. Portraits of Duse line the walls, and the house is practically a living museum of opera and theater history — autographed photographs of Laurence Olivier, John Gielgud, Noël Coward, Charlie Chaplin, Enrico Caruso, Zinka Milanov, Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Giuseppe Verdi, and Arturo Toscanini hang throughout. Sutherland and Pavarotti, on their way to Casa Duse, would stop for birthday cakes at Monteleone's Bakery, still standing today on Court and President streets.
Today, Casa Duse continues that legacy through a partnership with New Place Players: the Casa Duse Salon, a series of cultural events centered on chamber performance — theater, music, and dance, often woven together. We gather weekly, mostly on Thursdays (and occasionally Fridays), and take pride in championing emerging artists alongside cross-generational programming. Our hope is to make Casa Duse a place where community and art grow together.
“Thank you!! Tempest Tossed was such a special offering, I loved experiencing great acting up close like that, in a fantastic venue. And the music is just spectacular. Can’t wait for the next time (I love the idea of jazz evenings at Casa Duse). I first attended your Othello in 2023, and am so grateful you’re still at it. Keep me on your list!”
– Judy Staples, audience member
OUR CURRENT PRODUCTION IS
Adapted by Craig Bacon“New Place Players’ chamber adaptation of The Tempest, performed in the intimate townhouse parlor of Casa Duse, brilliantly bodies forth the interactive, immersive nature of the early modern theaters. The production is carried by its consistently strong cast, all of whom also contribute to Flavio Gaete’s live musical score, itself a highlight of the production, a fertile ground as cast and audience alike mingle after the show—the community that together creates this winning production.”