The History of
OFF CENTRE THEATER — est. 1962
Off Center Theatre has been in the business of entertaining people since 1962. Incorporated in 1968 as a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit corporation, we have performed continuously, and
…we’re still here!
Somewhere in the early 1960’s, a new kind of experimental theatre movement began — a theatre based on the craft of literature rather than commercialism. It is an alternative to those for whom commercial theatre was neither relevant nor affordable.
Founder Tony McGrath, with the blessings of Joe Cino from Café Cino, Peter Levin from The Hardware Poet’s Theater and Al Carmines from Judson Poet’s Theater, opened Off Center Theatre as a home for innovative playwrights with an eye on developing issue-oriented dramas. With the addition of Off Center Theatre, Off-Off Broadway was born. Located in the Good Shepherd Faith Church on 66th Street, around the corner from a hole in the ground which was to become the site of Lincoln Center, hence the name “Off Center.” People asking for directions to the Theatre company were told that it was just, “Off Lincoln Center,” and eventually the moniker “Off Center” worked for both the location and the timbre of the works produced.
Off Center established itself as an experimental, avant-garde, intellectual, playwrights’ safe haven; plays by writers such as Norman Wexler, Israel Horowitz, Larry Bell and a host of others were given inaugural works.
Off Center Theatre is a survivor company. Its effects are long-lasting and far reaching. Expect to see us around for at least another 60 years!
Tony McGrath, 1928 — 2018
Co-Founder, Producer, Director & Actor
Pictured with his wife, Abigail, and one of their sons.
Abigail Rosen McGrath
Co-Founder, Producer, Actress, Author
Participating Actors and Crew:
Marianne Aalda, F. Murray Abraham, Diahnne Abbot, Diane Adams, Trish Archer, Christine Baranski, Nathan Barrett, Judith Barnes, Verona Barnes, Leslie Ann Barret, Gene Bauer, Reathel Bean, Phyllis Black, Peter Boyle, Wickham Boyle, Celia Bressack, Chris Burgess, David Burgos, Ella Cabe, Jerry Chase, Mary Chase, Shelia Chase, Dominic Chianese, Dan Clancy, Noreen Connolly, Jeffrey Copelan, Bert Coppotelli, Michael Cuevas, Virginia Daly, Raul Davil, Nawana Davis, Brenda Dixon, Josh Edgerly, Jenny Egen, Jean Erdman, Dan Erkkila, Richard Fitzgerald, Marlene Fischer, John Ford, Fred Forest, Mary Frank, Gil Frazier, Perry Gaffney, Allen Garfield, Emi Gay, Vince Girardi, Toby Glanternick, Nina Glaudini, Kenny Green, Margie Gruen, Kathy Hanon, Carol Hardin, Elisabeth Hines, Steven Hollow, Jackie Howard, Sidney Howell, Hugh Hurd, Emi Irafalk, Dahl Irby, Teiji Ito, Howard Jerome, Emily Karl, Annie Korzen, Johnny Lake, Ralph Lee, John Lequizamo, Jenny Leo, Tom Leo, Kenny Lerner, Cleavon Little, Brian Luna, Luana, Chris Maile, Tom Maile, Elliot Manning, Norman Marshall, Bob Marrow, Kelly Martin, Caroline McDermott, Abigail Rosen McGrath, Tony McGrath, Jean McVey, S. Epatha Merkerson, Andy Michaels, George Millenbach, Eliza Miller, Andy Milligan, Crawford Mills, Paula Molnar, Nina Morin, Eytan Myrsky, Anna Mae Neilson, Nydia Novoa, Bob Ortiz, Eve Packer, Geraldine Page, Will Patton, Nancy Parker, Sean Pickering, Annette Purnell, Jason Rosen, Stewart Ross, Jaime Sanchez, Julia Santana, Carol Schwab, Stanley Seidman, Ailey Smith, Jane Sparks, Linda Stine, Jimmy Swan, Lynn Swan, Kim Sykes, Mary Thompson, Kim Tooks, Nancy Tribush, Glen Turner, Don Usher, Jacques Wakefield, Andy Winner, Bea Winner
