Charles M. Barras

Just as modern New York City evolved from a combination of immigrant societies that eventually mingled into one great metropolis, the major art form created by the city, the American musical play, evolved from a combination of stage entertainments these immigrant societies brought with them.

In honor of its 150th anniversary Joshua William Gelb and company revive The Black Crook, the first ever American musical, at the Abrons Arts Center this fall. That is, if you believe the myth.

In honor of its 150th anniversary Joshua William Gelb and company revive The Black Crook, the first ever American musical, at the Abrons Arts Center this fall. That is, if you believe the myth.

In honor of its 150th anniversary Joshua William Gelb and company revive The Black Crook, the first ever American musical, at the Abrons Arts Center this fall. That is, if you believe the myth.

The spectacular 19th Century production is traditionally regarded as the first American musical comedy.

On February 12, 1915, the Abrons Arts Center's Henry Street Settlement Playhouse opened its doors on the Lower East Side. Since that day, it has remained a vital cultural resource, providing audiences with artistically bold work while offering artists opportunities to dynamically grow. Since becoming Artistic Director in 2006, Jay Wegman has done much more than maintain "one of the last standing locations for avant-garde performance downtown" (The New York Times, 2009). He has created an arts venue that is unique to the city's cultural landscape, presenting an international mix of cutting-edge performing and visual artists, both established and emerging, from across the country and around the world, as well as from New York City. In a 2015 New York Times profile, Wegman says Abrons is "a place for people to succeed or fail or land somewhere in between."

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