SoHo Rep Closes 46 Walker Street Theater Suddenly, Cancels Upcoming Show

TRIBECA, NY — The SoHo Rep's theater at 46 Walker St. abruptly closed this week, leaving one performance without a stage and a lot of unanswered questions.

Playbill reported the theater closed suddenly on Wednesday, just one day before Gideon Irving's one-man show "My Name is Gideon" was scheduled to open. According to the report, the cast and crew only found out on Sept. 27.

"After months of preparation, we were ecstatic to welcome you to a space filled with spectacle, surprise, and wonder," All for One Theater, which was producing the show, said in a statement. "Therefore, it is with a heavy heart that we announce that due to unforeseen circumstances, our beloved home away from home, and Soho Rep.'s permanent space, Walkerspace, will shutter their doors immediately and our current production of MY NAME IS GIDEON is cancelled."

All for One Theater announced they will be looking for a new theater to host the performance.

"Despite the loss of a beloved and iconic theater that has marveled our community for over two decades, the hard work of our talented team will not go to waste!" the statement continued. "We are working now to secure a new home for this magical spectacle we are so eager to share with you."

The New York Times reports they had "recently concluded that the scale of its current productions was not permitted by restrictions on the property." The Certificate of Occupancy on file with the city notes the theater is not allowed to use "scenery or scenic elements" and says the maximum allowed occupancy is 70 people. The venue states it seats 73 people right on its website.

SoHo Rep has used the Walkerspace theater for 25 years. SoHo Rep was founded in 1975 and hosted the stage debuts of actors such as Allison Janney, John C. Reilly and Kevin Spacey.

Photo Credit: Walkerspace stage by Yknudadams via Wikimedia Commons