Mission

Primary Stages is an Off Broadway theater company dedicated to inspiring, supporting, producing, and sharing the art of playwriting. We operate on the belief that the future of American theater relies on nurturing individual playwrights and giving them the support needed to fully realize their artistic vision. As Resident Theater Company of 59E59 Theaters in Midtown Manhattan, Primary Stages produces a season of two to three plays each year. We develop new works through commissions, workshops, and readings and supports playwrights through our two flagship programs - The Dorothy Strelsin New American Writers Group and the Marvin and Anne Einhorn School of Performing Arts (ESPA). Since our founding in 1984, we have produced more than 150 new works, the majority of them being New York and World Premieres. Through all our activities, Primary Stages advocates for our artists, helping them make important, and often transformative, connections within the theater community. We are also proud to be the only Off-Broadway theater company the welcomes NYC public high school students to our theatre for no charge through our Free Student Matinee Program. This program has served over 20,000 students and teachers since 1995.