Irene Lewisohn was the founder of the Neighborhood Playhouse

Neighborhood Playhouse

The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre is an actor training school at 340 East 54th Street in New York City, generally associated with the Meisner technique of Sanford Meisner.-History:...

 and the Museum of Costume Art.

Biography

She was the daughter of Rosalie Jacobs and Leonard Lewisohn

Leonard Lewisohn

Leonard Lewisohn was an American merchant and philanthropist.-Biography:He was born in Hamburg, Germany, to Jewish parents, Julie and Samuel Lewisohn...

. In 1905 she and her sister, Alice Lewisohn

Alice Lewisohn

Alice Lewisohn was the founder of the Neighborhood Playhouse with her sister Irene Lewisohn. Alice was also an actress.-Biography:...

, began classes and club work at the Henry Street Settlement House in New York. They produced performances with both dance and drama. In 1915, they opened the Neighborhood Playhouse

Neighborhood Playhouse

The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre is an actor training school at 340 East 54th Street in New York City, generally associated with the Meisner technique of Sanford Meisner.-History:...

on the corner of Grand and Pitt Streets. There they offered training in both dance and drama to children and teenagers. Irene was in charge of the dance training and production, with the assistance of Blanche Talmud. Alice Lewisohn was in charge of the dramatic arts. In 1928 they opened The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre at 16 West Forty-sixth Street. Irene Lewisohn died in 1944.