THE PAST AND FUTURE OF 45 BLEECKER ST THEATRE

How returning to the scene of a past show you love inspires your current love of crime scenes.
By Pam Quinn (Writer)

This weekend I went full circle. In 2007, The Unknown Artists produced a show called "It's About Time" and we ran at The Bleecker Street Theatre for 2 weeks.
It was a pivotal time in my life. Our show was going up in an off Broadway house and the music, lyrics and book we had slaved over for a year was finally getting up on its feet in the most professional way it could at that time.

5+ years later, I return to 45 Bleecker to see a play called "The Exonerated" by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen. Recently, if you haven't followed me on Facebook and Crazytown, I have become extremely interested in the world of Crime documentaries. So it's only fitting that I visit my old playground 5 years later to treat my mind to a subject matter that effects me in the now, rather then the '20 somethings trying to make it in New York' that effected me then.

I began my evening by visiting The NoHo Star, an overpriced restaurant across the street from 45 Bleecker.
I sit down, pull out my crime drama notes and begin writing away. In walks Alan Arkin with his wife, I'm assuming. They sit down beside me, he pulls out a review of ARGO and begins to recite it to his dinner date. It's a positive review, so I'm pleased for him. I'm, of course, trying to figure out how I can tie Alan Arkin into my full circle experience via "6 degrees of Kevin Bacon." Okay, let's think... the first movie I ever remember Arkin in was...
                                                  Alan Arkin and Anthony LaPaglia in "So I Married an Axe Murderer"

 In that movie he plays a police detective. Police detectives solve crimes... here I am, about to see The Exonerated. Nailed it.

The lobster roll... wonderful. The fries... pretty damn good... the dessert... AMAZING. Maybe it's not overpriced after all. Moving on...

I enter the theatre of which I haven't set foot in since 2007. It looks similar, but there has definitely been some renovations. I remember running around this lobby trying to get everything together for the performances. Last minute, of course.

The play was wonderful. Just the kind of thing I'm interested in these days and with a cast and a director (Bob Balaban) that really made sure the frustrations, heartache, anger and humor all reached the audience with poinancy. 

As I left the theatre, I stepped back and took a good look at the building. Just 5 years ago I was writing about what I knew: Unrequited love, pot, alcohol and weddings and watching it all unfold at 45 Bleecker. Right now I'm in the midst of writing something so much bigger than all that and it was nice to see the steps I've taken in the last 5+ years directly in front of me... at 45 Bleecker.

PAM QUINN Moved to California from New York at age 14 and entered the professional world of writing at 17 on the west coast. Rising from sketch comedy with a background in theatre, Pam collected what she had learned over the years and compiled it into playwriting. She co-founded The Unknown Artists (www.theunknownartists.org) with Emily Clark and continues to be qchref="http://www.thepamquinn.wordpress.com" target="_self">www.uaplayclub.wordpress.com
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