Good news, NYC cabaret fans. The Laurie Beechman Theatre, a beloved NYC cabaret venue that had been poised to permanently close its doors, is not closing after all. Longtime supporters and Broadway producers Michael and Tom D'Angora have purchased the venue—along with the West Bank Cafe, the restaurant that houses it—from original owner Steve Olsen, who is retiring.
The venue is currently closed for renovations. A grand reopening celebration is expected in January 2025, with details to be announced.
The sale ends Olsen's 46 year-tenure running both the restaurant and the venerated cabaret space, which has hosted play readings, concerts, and more over its long run. Notably, comedian Joan Rivers used to work out material with regular shows at the space, including the final performance she gave before her 2014 death.
Originally opened in 1983 as the West Bank Cafe Downstairs Theater Bar, the space was renamed for late Broadway and cabaret icon Laurie Beechman following her death in 1998, at the age of 44. The venue is located in the theatre district, on 42nd Street at 9th Avenue.
News that the venue would permanently shut down broke in July, with Olsen citing a failure to overcome financial difficulties still lingering from the COVID-19 pandemic. A number of the space's most passionate fans—including the D'Angoras—stepped in to push back against a closing once planned for August, launching a GoFundMe campaign that raised more than $100,000. The D'Angoras also hosted an October gala that raised additional funds with a starry night of performances from Julie Benko (Funny Girl), Andrew Barth Feldman (No Hard Feelings), SAG winner Annie Golden (Orange Is the New Black), Tony nominee Joe Iconis (Be More Chill), Pulitzer winner Michael R. Jackson (A Strange Loop), SAG nominee Richard Kind (Mad About You), Emmy nominee Lorna Luft, Tony nominee Judy Kuhn (Fun Home), Grammy winner Eva Noblezada, Emmy nominee Randy Rainbow (Hadestown), and Tony winner Lillias White (The Life).
The D'Angoras say that we can expect little change as the space changes hands, sharing that they will keep the same cherished West Bank menu, and work to preserve the spirit that made it a true Hell's Kitchen arts institution. The new owners also plan to keep the entire current staff on their payroll.
“We’re not coming in to change what makes West Bank Cafe and Laurie Beechman Theatre special,” say the D’Angoras in a statement. “We’re here to honor its history, build on it, and ensure it remains a vital home for artists, audiences, and the Hell’s Kitchen community for generations to come.
“Steve Olsen is a dear friend and has created an unparalleled mainstay for the community. We are honored and humbled that Steve has trusted us to carry on this historic venue's legacy, and we will do everything in our power to ensure that his vision for this incredible space remains intact with the heart and spirit that makes it so warm and inviting.”
