Centaur Lawsuit Aims to Put Theater Production to Bed

“Sleep No More” is set to close at the end of next month, and the immersive theater production’s landlord can’t wait to put the show to rest.

Centaur Properties filed a lawsuit last week in Manhattan’s State Supreme Court, Crain’s reported. The landlord of 530-542 West 27th Street in west Chelsea is asking for an injunction to stop the production from using its space and is seeking permission to padlock the entrance to keep patrons out of the property.

Centaur alleges the production — an immersive take on Macbeth — is violating city administrative code by operating without a public assembly permit, which covers safety concerns such as fire prevention and seating arrangements.

The production’s temporary permit expired two years ago, according to the lawsuit, and the ongoing shows “maximize profits while blatantly disregarding the life, security and safety of the thousands of weekly guests,” according to the suit. The production hosts eight shows each week.

“Sleep No More” has occupied the site of the McKittrick Hotel since 2010, when the production rented space from Centaur for $200,000 a month. The rent has more than doubled to $438,000 a month and could grow to as much as $534,000 by the end of the lease in January 2032, according to court documents; Centaur bought the property in 2007 for $29.4 million. Centaur’s website proudly states that the company “was instrumental in creating the home for the acclaimed theater show ‘Sleep No More.'”

Centaur’s attorney did not comment to Crain’s on the lawsuit, while a producer of “Sleep No More” said the dispute was no more than an administrative issue.

The production was slated to close towards the end of January, only to extend its run for another three months. The last performance is scheduled for April 28.

— Holden Walter-Warner