American Place Theatre

Founded in 1963 by Wynn Handman and Sidney Lanier to promote new American plays, it was originally housed at St. Clement's Church, where its first production was Robert Lowell's The Old Glory. In 1971 it moved to a new space on West 46th Street with three theatres. The bunkerlike arts complex was constructed in the bowels of a new building and was made possible by an ordinance allowing tax benefits to developers whose high‐rises included public amenities. Remaining loyal to its original aims, it has offered works by such growing native talents as Ed Bullins, Ronald Ribman, Sam Shepard, Joyce Carol Oates, Bill Irwin, and Eric Bogosian. The group also promoted a special project to encourage women dramatists, but this has since been spun off as a separate entity called The Women's Project.