A Letter From Artistic Director Robert Lyons

The following letter has been posted on the Soho Think Tank/Ohio Theatre website:

Dear Ohio Theatre lovers,

The horrible rumors you've heard are true. The building has been sold. The future of our beloved Ohio Theatre is in jeopardy. I've been waiting for the sale to close before sending out information. The sale has now closed.

We were originally told we had to vacate the first floor by the end of this January! I am currently negotiating with the new landlord to allow us to stay through June. At least. That would mean the spring schedule would continue as planned:

January: Target Margin 10 Blocks on the Camino Real
March: Soho Think Tank Red-Haired Thomas
April: New Georges Angela's Mixtape.
May: Voice&Vision/Crossing Jamaica Ave I Have Been to Hiroshima Mon Amour

June: Clubbed Thumb Summer Works 09.

Beyond that, the future is uncertain.

Some changes have already gone into effect. We no longer have the 6th floor of the building. That means no more rehearsal space and no more 6th FLOOR SERIES.

On the other hand, we ARE planning to produce ICE FACTORY '09 (at the Ohio Theatre or elsewhere). So folks who are interested should continue to apply.

It is difficult to overstate what a blow this is to the downtown theatre community. (Not to mention to the quality-of-life in New York City in general.) Thank you all for your calls and emails of support. As the situation continues to clarify, we will figure out how to best channel our collective feelings of shock, frustration, sadness, and anger.

In the meantime, our doors are open and theatre continues.

Best,

Robert Lyons

This is really, really sad news for the Off-Off Broadway scene. The Ohio was the last of the "big" spaces. Let's hope the the economic down-turn and all of the resulting vacant commercial properties will mean a few new, great theater spaces popping up...