New Drama Book Shop Location Garners Raves

(From left to right) Allen Hubby, co-owner; Rozanne Seelen, co-owner and head book buyer; Sasha Domnitz, manager; and Domenic Silipo, general manager, celebrate at the gala grand opening of the new Drama Book Shop and adjoining Arthur Seelen Theatre. The new store, which has 6,000 square feet of retail space, is located on 40th Street between Seventh and Eighth avenues. Close to 500 people attended the event, which featured performances in the new theater.

As of December 3, The Drama Book Shop, Inc.--the 78-year-old store jammed with almost every imaginable theater book, script, and libretto--has moved into spacious new quarters at 250 West 40th Street in Manhattan.

After 25 years at what was supposed to be its temporary home at 48th Street and Seventh Avenue, the store now has three times the retail space, a ground-floor entrance, office space, and the 60-seat Arthur Seelen Theatre. The floor space enables the once-cramped, second-floor shop to add many more titles to the current 50,000, and to expand its film, video, and design sections.

According to the store general manager, Domenic Silipo, "Customers are already saying how much better the place is, much more open and friendly. With all the seating, the store can be more of a meeting ground for creative people. We are selling more books now that we can display more face out than before, when all books were spined. We can feature a lot of books that rarely sold before."

Since the death last year of Arthur Seelen, owner of The Drama Book Shop since 1958, his wife, Rozanne Seelen, has continued on as head book buyer. She now co-owns the store with Allen L. Hubby, most recently director of operations at Dramatists Play Service.

Hubby was instrumental in initiating the store's sponsorship of a resident theater company, Back House Productions. Back House is dedicated to developing socially conscious works and materials that contain relevant themes in contemporary society.

Silipo told BTW that the theater, as the legacy to Arthur Seelen's life-long commitment to the theatrical community, will serve as a venue for many educational as well as dramatic events. Small productions, readings, workshops, conferences, and seminars are all potential uses for the theater.

The first major event in the new space was a discussion and book signing for Women Who Write Plays by Alexis Greene (Smith and Kraus). Appearing were playwrights featured in the book, Migdalia Cruz, Tina Howe, Theresa Rebeck, and Diana Son.

-Nomi Schwartz