Sara Krulwich has been a staff photographer at The New York Times since 1979 and in 1994, she became the paper’s first culture photographer, gradually turning theater into a beat as she successfully fought to win access from producers accustomed to relying on photographers they hired. “At first people wouldn’t let me in — why would they let someone in who wasn’t going to let them see the photo ahead of time?” But over time, she prevailed, and Sara is generally the only photographer not on a show’s payroll who is allowed to shoot productions.
Among the many milestones of her career: She photographed developmental work on the Broadway production of Tony Kushner’s masterwork, “Angels in America,” she photographed Jonathan Larson, the writer and composer of “Rent,” hours before his unexpected death the night before the show’s first Off Broadway preview at New York Theater Workshop and she shot the final dress rehearsal of “Hamilton,” just before the first preview for that show’s Off Broadway production at the Public Theater.
In the 30 years she’s been in her current role and the 13 that preceded, Sara has created a visual encyclopedia of New York City theater. In 2018, Sara was the first journalist honored for “extraordinary achievement” by the Tony Awards, recognizing her decades of exceptional photographs of New York theater. Sara’s coverage of the New York theater world has grown as legendary as the actors and productions that she photographs.
Artist Bios
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Sara Krulwich
Sara Krulwich is the theater photographer for The New York Times, photographing stage productions in New York City. Every year, she documents more than 100 staged productions, dozens of news and feature stories, as well as new productions at the Metropolitan Opera. Sara was raised in New York City and attended the University of Michigan, where she was the first woman staff photographer for the school newspaper, The Michigan Daily. After graduation, she was the first female staff photographer at The Providence Journal, The Journal Inquirer and The Philadelphia Inquirer. Sara joined The New York Times in 1979 and covered sports, politics and general assignments until being named the paper’s first culture photographer in 1994. In 2018, she was the first journalist to receive a Tony Honor in recognition of “work that stands as an authentic historical record of New York theater.”
Organizations
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The New York Times
Since 1851, the New York Times has been on the ground reporting stories from around the globe that no one else was telling. How we tell those stories has changed, but our mission to seek the truth and help people understand the world has remained constant.
Sara Krulwich: Onstage, and Off
Featuring: Sara Krulwich
Curated by: Sara Krulwich Becky Lebowitz Hanger Meaghan Looram
Locations
ON VIEW AT: Truss Banner 35
View Location Details Download a detailed map of this location Brooklyn Bridge Park – Emily Warren Roebling Plaza1 Water St
Brooklyn, NY 11201
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