Draft:Pink / Ridge Theater

Pink, a cooperatively run theater company on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in the 1980s, had seven original members (in alphabetical order): Michael Harris (actor), Ron King (actor), Bob McGrath (director), Rick Parks (actor), Barry Plumlee (playwright), Kim Saunders (actor) and Ann Shea (actor). Recognized by their cursive pink logo stenciled graffiti-style all over Lower Manhattan, the group produced original theater in spaces where audiences from outside the usual theater audience gathered, and importantly, where Pink could use the space for free: in nightclubs, bars, cafes and community spaces. Among these: 8 BC (on E. 8th between Avenues B and C), Life Cafe (on the corner of E. 10th and Avenue B), Danceteria (a dance club in the West 20s), University of the Streets (on E. 7th at Tompkins Sq. Park), Club 57 (on E. 8th between 1st and 2nd Avenue), and others. Original work was produced by the company under the name Pink until playwright Barry Plumlee and actor Ron King left the group. At that time, new members joined the group under a new name: Ridge Theater. The name Ridge was adopted because three company members lived on Ridge Street below Houston Street on the Lower East Side. The theater company often rehearsed at the 124 Ridge Street Gallery, a storefront gallery founded by several Pink members and friends in the building where Evers and Olinder lived, across the street from McGrath. Ridge Theater original members were (alphabetically): Elizabeth Evers (costume designer), John Dossett (actor), Darroch Greer (actor), Bob McGrath (director), Laurie Olinder (scene projection and poster designer), Ann Shea (actor) and Fred Tietz (actor). Pink and Ridge both collaborated with creative people outside the core group in every area of their productions. Ridge Theater produced original work, including musicals and opera, by several author-composers, at spaces including Performance Space 122 (on 1st Avenue between 9th and 10th Street) and at the Serious Fun Festival, Lincoln Center, New York. Ridge Theater still produces theatrical work, mostly opera, with three members (alphabetically): Bob McGrath, Bill Morrison and Laurie Olinder.