TheaterWeek ends its run

By GREG EVANS

NEW YORK - TheaterWeek, a glossy theater magazine published weekly in New York and distributed nationally, apparently has ceased publication. Contributors to the magazine said Monday that publisher Charles L. Ortleb folded the publication over the weekend.

Calls to TheaterWeek's midtown Manhattan office went unanswered Monday.

One contributor said payments for stories lately have been slow in coming. The source recently was told by a TheaterWeek editor that the publication was struggling to pay its bills.

Specializing in personality profiles, reviews, theater news and gossip, TheaterWeek was one of few consumer titles devoted to the stage. Although recent issues continued to list John Harris as editor, a contributor said Harris actually began a year's sabbatical several months ago. Most of the editor's responsibilities have been assumed by assistant editor Melissa Rose Bernardo.

Daily Variety was unable to reach Bernardo or Ortleb Monday. TheaterWeek did not list circulation figures with the Audit Bureau of Circulations.