Greg Antonelli – Reopening The Provincetown Playhouse

Recently N.Y.U. has decided to re-open an historic theatre that was until recently planned to be made into a research lab. The university decided on other ways to solve the space issues they were faced with and decided that the blow to New York culture was not worth another research lab. The building, which was constructed in the 1830’s had for many years been a place where American theater was performed and tested. The theater found its way into the hands of a group of amateurs from Provincetown Massachusetts who made it there business to foster the work of writers from America. The building was bought by N.Y.U. in 1984. It is now run by the university and while some believe the changes they have made to the theater are offensive many officials believe that it is better to have at least a remnant of the old theater than to see it destroyed. The significance of this place is that it was really a cornerstone in our nations theater history. American works were allowed to be tried and tested here and that is immensely important to our nations culture. Places like this helped get Americas foot in the door when it came to cultural works and performing art and because of that I am personally glad that N.Y.U. decided to renovate it and keep it alive.