Andrew Leynse dies: The Off-Broadway artistic director who championed works by AR Gurney, Terrence McNally and Theresa Rebeck was 53

Andrew Leynse, whose 21-year tenure as artistic director of the off-Broadway theater company Primary Stages saw works by such prominent playwrights as Terrence McNally, AR Gurney, Theresa Rebeck, Charles Busch and Donald Margulies, died on January 20 to ‘ a sudden illness death. He was 53.

“It is with infinite sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Artistic Director Andrew Leynse,” read a statement released by Primary Stages, concluding, “Andrew’s dedication to playwrights and theater spanned dozens of careers and hundreds produced by new … .plays brought to life. His work made an incredible and indelible contribution to American theater, and his vision and generosity will never be forgotten.”

Leynse began his career at Primary Stages in a variety of positions, including executive producer and literary manager, after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University’s directing program. In 1999, he left Primary to work as an associate producer with Julian Schlossberg at Castle Hill Productions, where he developed more than 20 productions on and off Broadway. He returned to Primary Stages as artistic director in 2001, overseeing the move to 59E59 Theatres, then The Duke on 42nd Street, Cherry Lane Theater and finally the return to 59E59 Theatres.

Among the new works produced at Primary Stages during his tenure was that of Charles Busch The tribute artist and Lily Dare’s confession; Theresa Rebecks Below and Bad behavior; Terrence McNallys The Stendhal syndrome and Devotion of The Stuff of Dreams; David Ives’s All on time and lives of the saints; Donald Margulies’s The model apartment; various works of Horton Foote, incl Share the property (two Tony nominations); AR Gurneys The Fourth Wall and Black tie; Michael McKeevers Daniel’s husband; by Willy Holtzman sabine; Danai Gurira and Nikkole Salters In the continuum; On the way by Kristen Anderson-Lopez, James-Allen Ford, Russ Kaplan and Sara Wordsworth; Billy Porters As long as I live; Sharon Washington Feed the dragon; and Kate Hamills pride and prejudice and little woman

He is survived by wife Mary Bacon, son Abadi Leynse, brother James Leynse, sister Anne Bullock and other extended family. A memorial service for the wider theater community will be planned at a later date.