By Patrick Hedlund
DNAinfo News Editor
EAST VILLAGE — An eclectic range of artists rallied in the predawn hours Thursday to save a longtime theater on St. Mark's Place facing an uncertain future after its landlord recently announced he intended to sell the building.
Under St. Mark's, which has operated as an experimental theater between First Avenue and Avenue A since the 1970s, learned the six-story building that houses the basement venue hit the market for $5.75 million just last week.
Fearing a new buyer could purchase the property and evict the 45-seat theater, Under St. Mark's management team since 1998, the Horse Trade Theater Group, recently launched a fundraising campaign in the hopes of buying the space themselves.
"We're not looking for a fight — we're looking for help," said managing director Erez Ziv, as dozens of performers ranging from dancers and poets to rappers and comedians took the stage early Thursday morning as part of the performance-protest.
"These are people who don't get up till noon," he joked.
Horse Trade artistic director Heidi Grumelot explained that that landlord Andrew Bauer has communicated openly with the theater regarding the sale, but has not been able to commit to preserving the space.
The venue, which is zoned for theater use, has a "rolling" six-month lease that would be triggered upon any purchase of the building, she noted.
"Our goal is to take this opportunity to make this our own space," Grumelot said of the venue, which hosts performances seven days a week. "He's been the owner for a long time, and I think he's ready to sell."
Management noted that Horse Trade's other theaters — the Kraine and Red Room theaters on East 4th Street — would have to absorb any performances at Under St. Mark's if the venue is ultimately forced to shutter.
"These places are so rare," said spoken-word artist Tim Shea, 27, who performed Thursday morning and said he's been coming to Under St. Mark's for weekly open-mic nights for the past two years.
"It not only gives people an opportunity to test out being an artist, it encourages you to take your show to the next level."
Ziv would not divulge how much the theater pays each month in rent, but did indicate that it's lower than average market rates for the area.
Bauer could not immediately be reached for comment.
"He's done one of his shows here," Ziv said of Bauer, a playwright himself. "After this morning, he'll understand a little better how important this theater is."
Grumelot echoed Shea's sentiments that amateur performers need venues like Under St. Mark's to explore their art in an inclusionary setting.
"I think it's absolutely essential to have theaters in New York where artists can develop their work. We meet so many people who've just arrived in the city," she said.
"Over 35 spaces have closed down in the last decade," she added of the loss of small, independent theaters across the city. "Our goal is to not be one of those spaces."
