Encore Theater Reviews

West of Union Square, amid an older block of 1st Avenue, sits Encore Theater Reviews — a drama theater that puts live performances first. Across the street from a classic tenement stoop, that 155 1st Ave address sits squarely on a stretch where theaters soak in the late-night buzz of Alphabet City. The marquee down the block flickers long after the A train has pulled away. Dramatic monologues and ensemble casts share the nightly bill under the same roof. Just up the avenue from an indie bakery that still buys its flour by the sack, the theater pivots from neighborhood staple to arts anchor. Playbills spill onto the sidewalk; sidewalk chatter rises when the house lights dim. Between acts, patrons sip hot drinks from cups that leave lipstick rings on the sleeves of wool coats hung on racks near the door. Longtime residents arrive before the posted start, while newcomers pause to read the day’s listings taped to a glass pane. Call once to double-check ticket availability: * (516) 404-2960. If you’re mapping your route, point toward the modest mid-block storefront; its relatively small sign makes up for it every time the curtain rises. https://www.google.com/maps/place?ftid=0x89c2590d1b7b3d15:0xd7488a57f871ce13