The Manhattan Theatre Club (MTC) is a theatrical company that, since its founding in 1970, has grown into one of the nation’s most renowned arts organizations. MTC produces plays and musicals for both Broadway and Off-Broadway (Manhattan theaters with a seating capacity of 100 to 499, smaller than Broadway theaters). The company’s success has been driven by dedicated professionals—colleagues Lynne Meadow and Barry Grove. They propelled MTC to the forefront of the American theatrical scene. More on manhattan-trend.com.
Founding and Early Years
The Manhattan Theatre Club was founded by a group of businessmen in 1970. Its first home was a three-story building on East 73rd Street. A.E. Jeffcoat became the chairman of the board. He was the one who named the company. The idea came to him while he was a London correspondent for The Wall Street Journal and frequented the private Arts Theatre Club of London.
In 1972, Lynne Meadow took the helm as the company’s artistic director. At the time, Meadow, a recent Yale University graduate, faced a choice: lead the fledgling theater company or work at the cheese counter at Zabar’s, a gourmet emporium. She ultimately chose to focus on the theater. The ambitious Meadow saw MTC’s potential for growth and decided to take a chance. Her courage to dream big became the cornerstone of Meadow’s artistic leadership. During her tenure, she championed numerous playwrights who honed their skills on MTC’s stages and later achieved national acclaim.
In 1973, MTC managed to stage 23 plays by top Off-Broadway playwrights in just six weeks. It was here that Terrence McNally’s play Bad Habits had its world premiere. This comedy follows a doctor who allows his patients to indulge in their harmful habits as a path to happiness. Julie Bovasso’s Schubert’s Last Serenade, starring the legendary Robert De Niro, also premiered here. It tells the story of a construction worker who escorts an uninhibited, college-educated young woman to a fancy restaurant. They are passionately in love and enjoy their time together, serenaded by Franz Schubert’s music. Also in 1973, MTC received its first grant from The Shubert Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing unrestricted funding for non-profit theaters and dance companies.
In 1975, Barry Grove joined the company as managing director. When Lynn met Barry, she knew instantly their collaboration would be fruitful. Forty years later, Grove became the executive producer. Together with Lynne Meadow, they undoubtedly secured the Manhattan Theatre Club’s success. Grove stepped down in 2023 after 48 years with MTC, while Meadow continued to lead the team.
Rapid Growth
In 1977, the company received its first major multi-year grant from the Ford Foundation. This philanthropic foundation funds various programs and projects aimed at supporting democracy, reducing poverty, promoting international cooperation, and fostering human development. A year later, MTC received its first grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The NEA is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government that offers support and funding for projects demonstrating artistic excellence.
In 1984, the company relocated to Midtown Manhattan, with its administrative offices moving to West 16th Street. By the mid-1980s, MTC had established itself as a leading producer of contemporary British theater in the United States. They staged plays by renowned British playwrights such as Joe Orton, Harold Pinter, and Alan Ayckbourn.
In 1991, MTC launched its playwriting fellowships. That same year, the company received a multi-year grant from the Lila Wallace–Reader’s Digest Fund. Between 1990 and 2000, this fund awarded over $9 million to poets, playwrights, novelists, and non-fiction writers, enabling them to fully dedicate themselves to their craft and share their talents with the public. In 1993, MTC received a grant from the Alliance for New American Musicals, which allowed it to establish its Musical Theatre Program. Around the same time, The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust awarded MTC the largest multi-year grant in the company’s history. The Trust committed to partially underwriting two productions each season, as well as a portion of the educational program.
In 1997, MTC moved its administrative offices and rehearsal rooms to a modern, two-story facility near Times Square—the tourist “heart” of New York City and its most visited plaza. In the new space, in addition to staging performances, the company began hosting readings, workshops, and rehearsals. At the same time, MTC received a major grant from The Mellon Foundation, enabling an increase in artists’ fees. On average, these fees rose by 34% over two years.
In 2010, David S. Hodgson became chairman of the board. In 2020, MTC launched virtual programs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. For 18 months, the company conducted readings and workshops online.
Notable Productions
Eastern Standard by Richard Greenberg. This play tells the story of Stephen Wheeler, a highly successful yet disillusioned architect. The plot unfolds as he dines in a trendy Manhattan restaurant with his friend Drew Paley, a promising gay avant-garde artist. At a nearby table are investment advisor Phoebe Kidde and her TV producer brother, Peter, who has just revealed to his sister that he has AIDS. Suddenly, a boisterous homeless woman named May enters the restaurant. Stephen, Drew, Phoebe, Peter, May, and an exhausted waitress end up spending time together. They all find themselves rethinking their lives and re-evaluating their priorities.
Ruined by Lynn Nottage. The play explores the plight of women during the civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The story is set in a small tin mining town. Mama Nadi owns a bar and brothel frequented by miners and soldiers. The waitresses are forced to “provide more than whiskey and food,” living amidst a rainforest engulfed by a brutal war. It is a story of women’s lives shattered by widespread rape and torture.
Mauritius by Theresa Rebeck. The plot centers on half-sisters Jackie and Mary, who inherit a highly valuable stamp collection from Mary’s grandfather. Eager to get rich, the sisters meet Philip and Dennis. Philip is an arrogant stamp dealer. Dennis is a former stamp collector and small-time con man. The characters try to outwit each other in pursuit of the potential windfall.
LoveMusik by Alfred Uhry. This musical features the compositions of Kurt Weill. The story revolves around the 25-year romance between Kurt Weill and a woman named Lotte. Audiences follow their relationship’s evolution—from their first meeting to their fame in Europe and America, and ultimately, Weill’s death from a heart attack at age 50. The narrative unfolds first in pre-World War II Germany and then in the United States, where the couple was forced to emigrate because Weill was a renowned Jewish musician.
Educational Opportunities
In 1989, the company launched its educational program in two Manhattan high schools. Since then, the program has expanded to six distinct initiatives, reaching thousands of students in over forty schools. In 1997, MTC launched TheatreLink. This one-of-a-kind online program (as of March 2025) encourages schools across the U.S. and in other countries to create and then present a short play.
