"Improbably located in the heart of the Jewish ghetto on the Lower East side of Manhattan, the Neighborhood Playhouse and its brief yet influential tenure offer a story in the annals of theater history. From 1915 to 1927, this progressive theater, along with the better-known Provincetown Players and the Theatre Guild, defined and promoted the ideals of noncommercial theater in America." "In John P. Harrington's detailed account of the Neighborhood Playhouse's remarkable history, readers learn not only about its notable productions but also about its gradual shift in mission and the tensions between art and social work. The story of this entirely female-led company is told through the biographies of the "New Neighborhood Playhouse Women." Harrington traces the playhouse's long-lasting legacy: it fostered the Neighborhood School of Acting made famous by Sanford Meisner, created the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and helped spawn the expansive network of community theaters that thrive throughout America today. This book provides a vital yet often overlooked piece of theater history and a lost key to understanding the growth of theater arts in New York City."--BOOK JACKET.