Earlier this year, the downtown location on West Broadway near the World Trade Center site, was mentioned as an alternate site for the Equity troupe after its plan to be at a performing arts center at Ground Zero became too costly.

Signature's lease at the Peter Norton Space on West 42nd Street ends in 2011. The respected company is noted for devoting an entire season to one playwright-in-residence (currently, Charles L. Mee, whose Iphigenia 2.0 began performances Aug. 7).

The city had earlier urged Signature to consider Fiterman Hall, which was scarred by debris on 9/11. It was to be renovated and developed with improvements that would have included academic space and room for the theatre's operation.

"It became clear that the complexity of trying to do right by the Signature's program and Fiterman's programming wasn't going to be possible," Kate D. Levin, the city's commissioner of cultural affairs, told the Times.

The city and Signature continue to seek a new home for the company. As previously reported, the performing arts center once meant to house multiple companies will be home to just one — the Joyce Theater, which specializes in dance.

For more information about Signature Theatre Company, visit www.signaturetheatre.org.