Upper East Side Theatre Playhouse 91 Closes Its Doors

By Robert Simonson
31 May 2006

Playhouse 91, the Upper East Side Off-Broadway theatre that was home to the hits Quartermaine's Terms, The Syringa Tree and Menopause, the Musical, has closed.

The office of producers Leonard Soloway and Steven M. Levy, who operated the space with Patricia Greenwald, confirmed that the playhouse had been sold.

Playhouse 91—which was on 91st Street, as the name would suggest—was a rare stage in a neighborhood not known as a theatre district. For many years, it was the home of the Jewish Repertory Theatre, which produced such shows as Kuni-Leml, A Majority of One, The Fishkin Touch, Home of the Brave and Abie's Island Rose there. It lost its residency in 2000.

In fall 2000, Pamela Gien's sleeper hit, one-person show The Syringa Tree began a nearly two-year run at the theatre. It was quickly followed by another smash, the musical hit Menopause, the Musical, which closed on May 14 after more than 1,500 performances.

Several Off-Broadway theatres have closed in recent months, including the Perry Street Theatre and the Variety Arts.