Astor Place Theatre

Astor Place Theatre

Astor Place Theatre in 2009
Address	434 Lafayette Street New York City United States
Coordinates	40°43′45″N 73°59′32″W / 40.7293°N 73.9922°W / 40.7293; -73.9922
Owner	Blue Man Productions
Type	Off-Broadway
Production	Blue Man Group
Opened	January 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 served as home to the Blue Man Group, which purchased the theatre in 2001^[3] and is to perform there until 2025.^[4]

• Astor Place Theatre at the Internet Off-Broadway Database