CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO VIEW THE DOCUMENTARY: A HOME IN THE THEATRE
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The following was written in 2006:

“A Home in the Theatre” documents the story of 93 year-old Artistic Director Edith O’Hara waging the battle of her life to hold onto the theatre she founded 34 years ago on West 13th Street in Greenwich Village.  She is fighting a powerful real estate developer who wants to tear the building down and build condos in its place.  The developer has offered to buy Edith out, but she lives there, is stubborn and wants to leave it as a legacy to New York.  The theatre is in court over this, with an uncer-tain future and mounting legal bills.

The 13th Street Rep is a unique institution – even among the 300 Indie theatres in New York – both for its hosting the longest running Off-Off-Broadway play LINE, and for its fostering of creativity in all forms of theatre without regard to profit, including: new works, new actors (young and old), children’s theatre and new playwrights.

The struggle of the Rep parallels what has been going on in New York City as a whole, with smaller cultural institu-tions being raised by developers, and only blockbusters with corporate and mass appeal surviving.  During the making of this film, nearly 40 Indie theaters in New York were lost or destroyed.  The filmf ocuses on the unique role of Indie theatre, and its importance both for New York, and American theatre as a whole.
Quotes:

 “An exquisite, enlightening, and uplifting film that celebrates the passion of America's independent theatre artists and reminds us how precious and--sadly--how endangered they are in the 21st century. I highly recommend it to every New Yorker who cares about the city's cultural landscape.”
--Martin Denton, nytheatre.com

 “A Home in the Theatre” is a true revela-tion of one woman's lifetime commitment to keeping a home for theatre artists alive in greenwich village.  Her determination and love for the arts and those wanting to pursue a career in theatre is pitted against the greed and money hungry developers who want to destroy the building they call home.  it also gives a devastating picture of how many other theatres have been lost to the very same developers who have no respect for theatre or a space for the creative process.  it is a moving experience singlehandedly compiled and created by Melodie Bryant who gives us an intimate and touching insight into what is becoming common place in New York City 'e theatrical Off-Off Broadway scene.”
--Paul Adams, Artistic Director
Emerging Artists Theatre
 
“Should be required screening at every indie theater in the city.”
--Ralph Lewis, Artistic Director
Peculiar Works
CLICK HERE FOR WWW.AHOMEINTHETHEATRE.COM