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Andrew Leynse, whose 21-year tenure as the artistic director of the Off Broadway theater company Primary Stages saw the production of works by such prominent playwrights as Terrence McNally, A.R. Gurney, Theresa Rebeck, Charles Busch and Donald Margulies, died Jan. 20 after a sudden illness. His age was not immediately available.

“It is with endless sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Artistic Director, Andrew Leynse,” reads a statement released by Primary Stages, which concludes, “Andrew’s dedication to playwrights and the theater launched dozens of careers and brought hundreds of new plays to life. His work had an incredible and indelible contribution to the American theater, and his vision and generosity will never be forgotten.”

Leynse began his career at Primary Stages in a variety of different roles, including Production Manager and Literary Manager, after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University’s directing program. In 1999, he left Primary to...

Executive Producer, Jeremy Handelman Off The Leash Productions, LLC with Times Sq Productions, LLC will present an invite-only, industry presentation of Stephen Lloyd Helper's Up and Down, starring Mary Bacon Broadway Rock and Roll, Arcadia, Robert Creighton Broadway Disney's Frozen. NYC Cagney and Isabella Rossellini Film Blue Velvet, Death Becomes Her. The presentation will take place on Thursday, November 21 and Friday, November 22 at Manhattan Theatre Club Studios 311 West 43rd Street.

The Tribute Artist by Charles Busch Directed by Carl Andress 59E59 Theaters, NYC Through March 29, 2014 Towards the end of this uproarious farce by veteran playwright and actor Charles Busch, Mr. Busch--as Jimmy Nichols, a long-in-the-tooth “female impressionist tribute artist” (a/k/a unemployed drag performer)--delivers a line that in any other play, comedy or otherwise, would befuddle the audience due to its complete nonsense. Proclaimed in tones of voice that would, in an era long gone by, indicate the pronouncement of a grand life-transforming revelation, Jimmy declares “The more honest you are, the more people believe you.” Without a doubt, only Charles Busch could make such an utterance not only appear reasonable, but in the process bring the house down shrieking with laughter.

The Tribute Artist could be designated a sort of penultimate culmination of Charles Busch’s three-decade career. In many wondrous permutations over the years, Mr. Busch has honored,...

Primary Stages, Daryl Roth, and Ted Snowdon in association with Jamie deRoy present The Tribute Artist, a new world premiere comedy written by and starring Tony-nominee Charles Busch The Divine Sister, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, Olive and the Bitter Herbs. Now playing through March 16 at Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters, opening night is Sunday, February 9 at 6pm. Directed by Busch's long-time collaborator Carl Andress The Divine Sister, The Third Story, the cast will also feature Mary Bacon Harrison, TX... Giant, Cynthia Harris Lost in Yonkers, 'Mad About You', Julie Halston Olive and the Bitter Herbs, Anything Goes Keira Keeley Angels in America, The Glass Menagerie, and Jonathan Walker The Assembled Parties, The Divine Sister.

Beginning Tuesday, January 21, Primary Stages, Daryl Roth, and Ted Snowdon in association with Jamie deRoy present The Tribute Artist, a new world premiere comedy written by and starring Tony-nominee Charles Busch The Divine Sister, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, Olive and the Bitter Herbs. Directed by Busch's long-time collaborator Carl Andress The Divine Sister, The Third Story, the cast will also feature Mary Bacon Harrison, TX... Giant, Cynthia Harris Lost in Yonkers, 'Mad About You', Julie Halston Olive and the Bitter Herbs, Anything Goes Keira Keeley Angels in America, The Glass Menagerie, and Jonathan Walker The Assembled Parties, The Divine Sister. The Tribute Artist runs through March 16 at Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters. Opening night is Sunday, February 9 at 6pm.

Primary Stages continues their 29th season with The Tribute Artist, a new world premiere comedy written by and starring Tony-nominee Charles Busch The Divine Sister, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, Olive and the Bitter Herbs. Directed by Busch's long-time collaborator Carl Andress The Divine Sister, The Third Story, the cast will also feature Mary Bacon Harrison, TX... Giant, Cynthia Harris Lost in Yonkers, 'Mad About You', Julie Halston Olive and the Bitter Herbs, Anything Goes Keira Keeley Angels in America, The Glass Menagerie, and Jonathan Walker The Assembled Parties, The Divine Sister. The Tribute Artist runs January 21-March 16 at Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters. Opening night is Sunday, February 9 at 6pm.

Harrison, TX This trio of vintage Horton Foote one-acts — The Midnight Caller, The One-Armed Man, The Blind Date — ranges in tone from gothic melodrama to parlor comedy, but the spotlight belongs to Midnight (also notable as the play that brought an unknown named Robert Duvall to Foote’s attention). Do-no-wrong dialogue melodist Pam MacKinnon, one of the American theater’s most exciting directors, has assembled a near-perfect ensemble, including the charming, funny Andrea Lynn Green as Cutie, a young, would-be spinster, the unflappable Hallie Foote as the proprietor, and the great, great Jayne Houdyshell as their de facto matriarch, Miss Rowena.The backdrop is a quietly desperate all-women’s boarding house, serene in its stasis, destabilized by the coming of a divorced man (Jeremy Bobb) and a “fallen” woman (Jenny Dare Paulin). Censorious Alma Jean (Mary Bacon) protests, Cutie bursts spontaneously into tears, but it’s Miss Rowena, accompanying herself on rocking chair,...

Primary Stages launched its 28th season with Harrison,TX Three Plays by Horton Foote. Opening night was last night, August 14. Tony Award nominees HAllie Foote Dividing the Estate, The Orphans Home Cycle and Jayne Houdyshell Follies, Well will head up an ensemble featuring Devon Abner Dividing the Estate, The Orphans Home Cycle, Mary Bacon Motherhood Out Loud, Happy Now Jeremy Bobb Is He Dead, Shipwrecked..., Alexander Cendese Psycho Therapy, A View From the Bridge, Andrea Lynn Green Giant, Anne and Emmett, Evan Jonigkeit High, History Boys at Arden Theatre Company, and Jenny Dare Paulin Dividing the Estate, The Orphans Home Cycle. Helmed by Tony Award nominated director Pam MacKinnon Clybourne Park, A Lifetime Burning at Primary Stages, Harrison,TX Three Plays by Horton Foote runs through September 15 at Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters.BroadwayWorld was there for opening night and will bring you full coverage from the festivities below...

Primary Stages Casey Childs, Founder amp Executive Producer Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director Elliot Fox, Managing Director launches its 28th season with Harrison,TX Three Plays by Horton Foote. Opening night is Tuesday, August 14. Tony Award nominees Hallie Foote Dividing the Estate, The Orphans Home Cycle and Jayne Houdyshell Follies, Well will head up an ensemble featuring Devon Abner Dividing the Estate, The Orphans Home Cycle, Mary Bacon Motherhood Out Loud, Happy Now Jeremy Bobb Is He Dead, Shipwrecked..., Alexander Cendese Psycho Therapy, A View From the Bridge, Andrea Lynn Green Giant, Anne and Emmett, Evan Jonigkeit High, History Boys at Arden Theatre Company, and Jenny Dare Paulin Dividing the Estate, The Orphans Home Cycle. Helmed by Tony Award nominated director Pam MacKinnon Clybourne Park, A Lifetime Burning at Primary Stages, Harrison,TX Three Plays by Horton Foote runs through September 15 at Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters.

Primary Stages presents Harrison,TX Three Plays by Horton Foote, the first production of their 28th Season. Tony Award nominees HAllie Foote Dividing the Estate and Jayne Houdyshell Follies, Well will head up an ensemble featuring Devon Abner Dividing the Estate, Mary Bacon Rock N Roll on Broadway, Motherhood Out Loud at Primary Stages, Jeremy Bobb Is He Dead on Broadway, Shipwrecked at Primary Stages, Alexander Cendense A View From the Bridge, Andrea Lynn Green Giant at Dallas Theatre Center, Evan Jonigkeit History Boys at Arden Theatre Company, and Jenny Dare Paulin Dividing the Estate. Helmed by Tony Award nominated director Pam MacKinnon Clybourne Park, A Lifetime Burning at Primary Stages, Harrison,TX runs July 24 September 15 at Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters.The cast met the press today, and BroadwayWorld was there for the festivities. Check out a preview of the cast below, and check back later for full coverage...

Primary Stages have announced casting for Harrison,TX Three Plays by Horton Foote, the first production of their 28th Season. Tony Award nominees Hallie Foote Dividing the Estate and Jayne Houdyshell Follies, Well will head up an ensemble featuring Devon Abner Dividing the Estate, Mary Bacon Rock N Roll on Broadway, Motherhood Out Loud at Primary Stages, Jeremy Bobb Is He Dead on Broadway, Shipwrecked at Primary Stages, Alexander Cendense A View From the Bridge, Andrea Lynn Green Giant at Dallas Theatre Center, Evan Jonigkeit History Boys at Arden Theatre Company, and Jenny Dare Paulin Dividing the Estate. Helmed by Tony Award nominated director Pam MacKinnon Clybourne Park, A Lifetime Burning at Primary Stages, Harrison,TX runs July 24 September 15 at Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters.