The Empyrean Club Sets a New Cultural Blueprint with American Psycho as its Opening Act in 2027

BROOKLYN, N.Y., March 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Empyrean Club, the new Brooklyn-based cultural venue combining theatre, nightlife, dining, and a social club captured in a stunning post-modern architectural design, announces plans for its 2027 launch with the exclusive New York City production of the musical American Psycho.

Conceived with a bold vision for the future of theatre and live arts––to create long term value for artists, audiences, communities and investors––the Empyrean Club presents a new blueprint for cultural production, offering a multi-sensory experience rooted in dynamic programming, architectural and design excellence, and an integrated approach to hospitality.

Located at 421 Troutman Street in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn—recently cited as one of the most exciting neighborhoods in the U.S.––the 10,300-square-foot, purpose-built venue will have a total capacity of 590 guests, including a 299-seat mainstage theatre. It has been designed as a complete night out under one roof, with live performance flowing seamlessly into cocktails, sushi omakase, dancing, conversation pits, and late-night social spaces.

Leadership
Led by a boundary-defying managing partnership—Max Hunter, Founding Artistic Director of The Bridge Production Group, who leads the Empyrean Club's theatrical creative and will direct American Psycho; Lucas Katler, Tony Award®-winning producer overseeing business and long-term strategy; and Jesse Singer, Founder of Neon Noir, spearheading architecture, design, and experiential strategy—the Empyrean Club is conceived as a scalable, hybrid model: part theatre, part social club, part design-led environment, and part long-term, cultural infrastructure.

A multidisciplinary artist advisory board is currently being formed in collaboration with local artists and members of the surrounding creative community to shape Empyrean's programming.

A new production of American Psycho
Anchoring the venue is its exclusive New York City flagship production of American Psycho—to be directed by Hunter as the foundation of a continuously evolving program. More than three decades after Bret Easton Ellis first introduced Patrick Bateman, the story's satire of consumerism, identity, excess, and moral vacancy has only grown more resonant, reflecting a culture increasingly shaped by image, power, and performative success. The musical has recently returned to the spotlight in a sold out run at London's Almeida Theatre, reaffirming the enduring relevance of Ellis's work. As Ellis himself has noted, American Psycho was never merely a period piece, but a reflection of deeper societal anxieties—an observation that remains poignantly relevant today.

American Psycho at the Empyrean Club will be brought to life by a world–class creative team. The musical features a book written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, the award-winning playwright and television creator behind Riverdale and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, with music and lyrics by Duncan Sheik, the Grammy- and Tony Award-winning composer of Spring Awakening, and choreographers Baye & Asa, whose work spans The Joyce Theater, the Guggenheim, and major repertory companies, including the Martha Graham Dance Company.

Programming
The Empyrean Club will operate across multiple verticals—including food and beverage, nightlife programming, memberships, merchandise, brand collaborations, sponsorships, and curated private and public events—creating revenue diversifications rather than reliance on any single production. In addition to the musical, the Empyrean Club's program will invite audiences to move fluidly between theatre, live music, dance, cabaret, burlesque, comedy, and late-night performance, often encountering multiple acts in a single visit.

"Rather than a traditional theatre, we are creating a garden of earthly delights," says Hunter, who leads the club's theatrical creative and will direct American Psycho. "Empyrean is a place of ecstasy, artistry, and real interpersonal connection — when the curtain falls, the night has just begun."

Architecture and design
The Empyrean Club's interior and architectural vision is led by an interdisciplinary team creating a spatial narrative with a distinct identity in the landscape of theatre, architecture, and contemporary culture, rather than a static venue. The project is shaped by architect and theatrical set designer Seth Byrum, whose work includes theatre design and renovation projects across New York and contributions to major cultural venues with firms such as Bjarke Ingels Group and Studio Gang, alongside Tony-Saba Shiber, Founding Partner of the Brooklyn-based, multidisciplinary design studio commoncraft, known for large-scale mixed-use and civic projects. Interiors and material innovation are driven by Safwat Riad of SAFWAT BY SAFWAT, whose studio bridges contemporary art, music, fashion, and nightlife through cutting-edge fabrication and immersive environments. His work includes interior design for influential nightlife destinations such as Paragon, Elsewhere, and Bushwick's Mood Ring, shaping spaces that blur the boundaries between performance, social ritual, and design. Christian Gideon (Lusso) serves as design consultant, bringing an editorial sensibility shaped by post-modern interiors and a nuanced understanding of nostalgic modernism.

"We want to blur the boundaries between venue, artform and experience," says Singer. "Architecture itself becomes a form of media here. The space will be expressive, atmospheric, conversational, and modular—capable of transforming from theatre to intimate lounge areas, to a concert venue, to a dance party without missing a beat."

Food and beverage
Food and beverage at the Empyrean Club will be conceived as integral components of the overall experience. The culinary program is led by acclaimed chef Ham El-Waylly, whose career includes formative roles at WD-50 and Corton, leadership positions at Empellón and Everyday Hospitality, and the opening of the critically-acclaimed Fort Greene oyster bar Strange Delight. The Club's cocktail and bar program is shaped by celebrated bartender, author, and consultant John deBary, who previously served as Bar Director for the Momofuku restaurant group and is the author of Drink What You Want and Saved by the Bellini.

Future vision
Positioned at the intersection of nightlife and performance, the Empyrean Club has been conceived as a scalable platform with ambitions to expand to cities including Austin, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, and Tokyo.

As Katler adds: "If theatre is going to thrive and reach younger audiences, the way we present it must evolve. The Empyrean Club is committed to the future of live art—one in which theatre is no longer isolated, precious, or static, but social, dynamic, and deeply woven into the rhythms of urban life. We're building a new model, not just to host culture, but to generate it."

Website
https://www.empyrean.club/

Social Media
Instagram: @empyrean_club
TikTok: @empyrean.club
Facebook

Communications and Media Relations
Lyn Winter, Inc.
Jennifer Gross, [email protected], Isabelle Alfonso, [email protected]
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SOURCE The Empyrean Club