Topically Yours - Lorcan Otway, Owner of St Marks Theatre 80

Rainbow Soul

Host Deardra Shuler invited Lorcan Otway, owner/director of St Marks Theatre 80, located at 80 St Mark’s Place in NYC. Mr Otway will discuss the recent play presented by the Negro Ensemble Co, "Grandma's Quilt, starring Karen A. Brown. The influence the Coronavirus has on the theater community. What both the Broadway and off-Broadway Theater Alliances are doing to protect its people, actors, audience and much more. Theatre 80 St Marks is an historic theater also known as "the jewel of Off-Broadway" built in 1964. It was built in a former speakeasy and jazz club where Frank Sinatra and Edward Albee began their careers. This Lower East Side landmark is one of the city’s oldest revival theaters. It was designed by its late owner Howard Otway and his son Lorcan Otway. "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown" opened at the theater in 1967, launching the careers of Bob Balaban, Gary Burghoff and one of the ushers, Billy Crystal. From 1970 - 1994 it was central in the third wave of classical film revival houses. The theater was leased out for live theater and managed by the Otway family trust upon the death of Howard Otway. The theater is now run by his son, Lorcan Otway. The Theater's Walk of the Stars has signatures of a large number of stars from Gloria Swanson, Myrna Loy and Joan Crawford, to Alan Cumming and Gary Burghoff. Recently "Late Night" with Jonathan Lithgow, Mindy Kaling and Emma Thompson was filmed there. The Coronavirus is spreading so rapidly that industries are forced to temporarily shut down until the issue of how to handle the virus is dealt with. Lorcan Otway will talk about what the entertainment industry is doing, at least temporarily, to stem the spread of the disease.