Primary Stages will celebrate the life of Andrew Leynse, who was the artistic director of the Off-Broadway company for 21 seasons, April 24 at St. Paul's Chapel at Columbia University. Mr. Leynse passed away January 20 following a sudden illness.

Scheduled to pay tribute to the late artistic director are Mêlisa Annis, Heidi Armbruster, Mary Bacon, Charles Busch, Kerry Butler, Erin Daley, Hallie Foote, Shane Hudson, Michele Lowe, Tyler Marchant, Dan O’Brien, Theresa Rebeck, Chesney Snow, and Ted Snowdon. The memorial will begin at noon; doors open at 11:45 AM.

A statement from Primary Stages reads, “Primary Stages celebrates the life and legacy of our beloved Artistic Director, Andrew Leynse. In January, we lost one of the dearest, kindest, most devoted people we have ever known. Andrew was our light and our heart, and his passing diminishes us all. We are grateful for every day we had with him, and know he touched so many of you, both personally and artistically. Please hold his incredible family, especially his wife Mary, son Abadi, brother James, and sister Anne in your hearts—we know this is the first thing he would have asked of all of us.

“Andrew’s dedication to playwrights and the theatre launched dozens of careers and brought hundreds of new plays to life. His work had an incredible and indelible contribution to the American theatre, and his vision and generosity will never be forgotten.”

Primary Stages is also inviting anyone who wants to share a memory of Mr. Leynse to do so on a Virtual Wall.

The tribute is currently at capacity; click here for more information.