About Us
Astor Place Theatre is a historic Off-Broadway venue and a longtime home to bold, innovative work. Designated a New York City Landmark nearly sixty years ago, the theatre was built in 1831 as part of Colonnade Row and has long held a reputation as a platform for emerging artists and groundbreaking performances. A performing arts venue since 1968, it became the home of Blue Man Group from 1991 to 2024, during which the show was performed nearly 18,000 times and became a fixture of the city’s cultural landscape. Today, the theatre has been reimagined for modern audiences, with inviting social spaces that encourage people to linger, meet, and share in live theatre. Astor Place Theatre is programmed and operated by No Guarantees Productions, the Tony Award–winning theatre producer and investor.
Our History
The chapters that shaped our stage
1831
Origins
The theatre occupies a building constructed in 1831 as part of Colonnade Row, a rare surviving example of Greek Revival architecture in New York. The building originally housed prominent families, including members of the Astor and Vanderbilt families.
1963
Landmark Designation
The structure was designated a New York City Landmark in 1963, preserving its architectural and cultural significance.
1965 — 1968
Transformation into a Theatre
Bruce Mailman and John Sugg purchased the building in 1965 and opened Astor Place Theatre as a performing arts venue in 1968.
1965 — 1968
A Home for Bold New York
The theatre quickly became known as a place for new and experimental performance, premiering works by playwrights such as: Tom Eyen (The Dirtiest Show in Town), John Ford Noonan (A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking).
1991 — 2025
Blue Man Group Residency
Blue Man Group began performances at Astor Place Theatre in 1991 and continued for 34 years, staging nearly 18,000 performances. In 2001, the co-founders of Blue Man Group purchased the venue, establishing it as the production’s longtime New York home.
2025
A New Chapter
In 2025, No Guarantees Productions assumed the long-term lease of Astor Place Theatre. The company is reopening and activating the theatre’s social spaces and programming the venue as a home for bold new work and a place for audiences to gather and connect.