Village South Theatre
Encyclopedia
The Village South Theatre was an Off-Broadway
theatre in New York City
that was active during the 1960s.
Located on Vandam Street in Greenwich Village
, the theatre opened in 1962 with the original production of Jean Erdman
's award-winning musical play The Coach with the Six Insides which was based upon James Joyce
's last novel Finnegans Wake
. The following year Edward Albee
used profits from Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? to establish the Playwrights’ Unit at the Village South Theatre; an organization which provided a platform for untested new playwrights to premiere their works.
The theatre closed in 1970, with its last production being Michael Preston Barr
and Dion McGregor
's musical Who's Happy Now?.
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
theatre in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
that was active during the 1960s.
Located on Vandam Street in Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
, the theatre opened in 1962 with the original production of Jean Erdman
Jean Erdman
Jean Erdman is a dancer and choreographer of modern dance as well as an avant-garde theater director.-Early years:Erdman was born on February 20, 1916 in Honolulu, Hawaii...
's award-winning musical play The Coach with the Six Insides which was based upon James Joyce
James Joyce
James Augustine Aloysius Joyce was an Irish novelist and poet, considered to be one of the most influential writers in the modernist avant-garde of the early 20th century...
's last novel Finnegans Wake
Finnegans Wake
Finnegans Wake is a novel by Irish author James Joyce, significant for its experimental style and resulting reputation as one of the most difficult works of fiction in the English language. Written in Paris over a period of seventeen years, and published in 1939, two years before the author's...
. The following year Edward Albee
Edward Albee
Edward Franklin Albee III is an American playwright who is best known for The Zoo Story , The Sandbox , Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? , and a rewrite of the screenplay for the unsuccessful musical version of Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's . His works are considered well-crafted, often...
used profits from Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? to establish the Playwrights’ Unit at the Village South Theatre; an organization which provided a platform for untested new playwrights to premiere their works.
The theatre closed in 1970, with its last production being Michael Preston Barr
Michael Preston Barr
Michael Barr was born January 2, 1927 in Indiana and died May 19, 2009 in Los Angeles, California from complications arising from diabetes. Mr. Barr was an American composer of traditional pop and showtunes, who in collaboration with lyricist Dion McGregor, wrote "Try Your Wings" for cabaret...
and Dion McGregor
Dion McGregor
Dion McGregor was a New York City-born songwriter, whose main claim to fame is that he was a voluble dreamer, or somniloquist.As a songwriter, McGregor's biggest success came when his song "Where Is The Wonder" was recorded by Barbra Streisand on her hit album My Name Is Barbra...
's musical Who's Happy Now?.