Astor Place Theatre

For the 19th-century theater also known as the Astor Place Theatre, see Astor Opera House.
Astor Place Theatre
Astor Place Theatre in 2009
Map
Address434 Lafayette Street
New York City
United States
Coordinates40°43′45″N 73°59′32″W / 40.7293°N 73.9922°W / 40.7293; -73.9922
OwnerBlue Man Productions
TypeOff-Broadway
ProductionBlue Man Group
OpenedJanuary 17, 1968 (1968-January-17)

The Astor Place Theatre is an off-Broadway house at 434 Lafayette Street in the NoHo section of Manhattan, New York City. The theater is located in the historic Colonnade Row, originally constructed in 1831 as a series of nine connected buildings, of which only four remain.

Bruce Mailman bought the building in 1965.[1] On January 17, 1968, the theater opened with Israel Horovitz's The Indian Wants the Bronx starring newcomer Al Pacino. Since then, it has gained a reputation for introducing works by aspiring and often experimental playwrights, including Tom Eyen (Women Behind Bars, The Dirtiest Show in Town) and John Ford Noonan (A Couple White Chicks Sitting Around Talking). Established writers like Terrence McNally (Bad Habits), A.R. Gurney (The Dining Room, The Perfect Party) and Larry Shue (The Foreigner) also have premiered plays here. The musical revue, Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris enjoyed a successful run in 1974.[2]

Starting in 1991, the theater has served as home to the Blue Man Group, which purchased the theatre in 2001[3] and is to perform there until February 2, 2025.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Bruce Mailman, 55, Owner of Businesses In the East Village". The New York Times. June 12, 1994. ISSN 0362-4331.
  2. ^ Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris Archived June 24, 2010, at the Wayback Machine at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
  3. ^ Rosenblum, Constance (November 8, 2009). "A Production Called Home". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  4. ^ Paulson, Michael (November 23, 2024). "Blue Man Group to End New York Run After Three Decades Off Broadway". The New York Times. Retrieved November 25, 2024.