The Public Theater facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
The Public Theater

Address	425 Lafayette Street New York City United States
Coordinates	40°43′45″N 73°59′30″W / 40.72917°N 73.99167°W / 40.72917; -73.99167
Designation	New York City Landmark (Astor Library)
Type	Off-Broadway
Capacity	LuEsther: 160 Martinson: 199 Shiva: 99 Newman: 299 Anspacher: 275
Opened	1967

The Public Theater is a famous arts group in New York City. It was started by Joseph Papp in 1954. Back then, it was called the Shakespeare Workshop. Its main goal was to help new writers and actors show their talent.

The theater's first big show was the musical Hair in 1967. After Joseph Papp, leaders like JoAnne Akalaitis and George C. Wolfe took over. Today, Oskar Eustis is the Artistic Director and Patrick Willingham is the Executive Director.

The Public Theater's main building is at 425 Lafayette Street in Lower Manhattan. This building used to be the Astor Library. It has five different theater spaces inside. It also has Joe's Pub, a cool place for new music, spoken word, and solo shows.

The Public Theater also runs the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. Here, they put on "Shakespeare in the Park" shows for free. They have been doing this since 1954.

Some of their recent popular shows include The Merchant of Venice (2010), Here Lies Love (2013), Fun Home (2013), Eclipsed (2015), and Hamilton (2015).

Theater Programs and Events

Every year, The Public Theater puts on many different shows, festivals, and programs. These are in addition to their main plays.

Public LAB Series

The Public LAB series started in 2008. It shows new plays and works with the LAByrinth Theater Company. After each Public LAB show, there are talks where people discuss the play's main ideas. Many plays from Public LAB have become full productions, like The Good Negro and Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. The latter was so popular it moved to Broadway.

Public LAB SHAKESPEARE

In 2011, Public LAB added Public LAB SHAKESPEARE. This part focuses on exploring Shakespeare's plays. It helps The Public Theater create new American versions of Shakespeare's works. The first show for Public LAB SHAKESPEARE was Timon of Athens in March 2011.

Mobile Unit and Public Works

Since 2013, The Public's Mobile Unit has brought free Shakespeare shows to different places in New York City. These places include prisons, homeless shelters, and community centers. The tour always ends at The Public Theater.

The Public also started its Public Works program in 2013. This program brings together many different people from New York City. They watch theater, take part in workshops, and perform in a big show with professional actors. These shows happen at Shakespeare in the Park. Past Public Works shows include The Tempest and The Odyssey.

Public Forum and Festivals

The Public Forum started in 2010. It is a series of talks, debates, and discussions. It features important people from arts, politics, and media. These events explore ideas from the plays and current events. Famous people like Stephen Sondheim and Alec Baldwin have taken part.

The Public Theater also hosts the yearly Under the Radar Festival. This festival shows new theater from all over the world. For over a decade, the festival has featured more than 194 groups from 40 countries.

Programs for Writers and Actors

The Public Theater is home to the Emerging Writers Group. This group helps new playwrights at the start of their careers. It is part of The Public Writers Initiative.

The Public also has Public Studio. This series helps new theater artists develop their work. Playwrights can try out new pieces in front of an audience. This helps them get feedback and improve their work.

The Public Theater also teaches actors. The Shakespeare Lab is a summer program for professional actors. It helps them learn more about performing Shakespeare.

There are also programs for teenagers. These include Shakespeare Spring Break, Summer ShakeUP, and A Midsummer Day's Camp. They are for teens who want to learn about and perform Shakespeare.

Suzan-Lori Parks, a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, showed her piece Watch Me Work at the 2011 Under The Radar Festival. She worked on her new writing project in the theater's main lobby.

The Astor Library in the late 1800s

A drawing of the Library from 1900

Famous Shows and Awards

Many shows from The Public Theater have moved to bigger Broadway theaters. The three most successful ones are Hair (1967), A Chorus Line (1975), and Hamilton (2015).

The Public Theater has won many important awards. These include 54 Tony Awards, 152 Obie Awards, 42 Drama Desk Awards, and five Pulitzer Prizes. Over 55 Public Theater shows have gone on to Broadway.

The Astor Library Building

The Public Theater has been in its current building at 425 Lafayette Street since 1967. This building is a historic landmark. It was built between 1853 and 1881 as the Astor Library. This library later became part of the New York Public Library.

The library was built by William Backhouse Astor Sr., whose father, John Jacob Astor, started the library. A German architect named Alexander Saeltzer designed the building. Later, the building was expanded twice, but the new parts matched the original design perfectly.

In 1920, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society bought the building. By 1965, it was not being used and was almost torn down. The Public Theater, then called the New York Shakespeare Festival, convinced the city to buy it. It was changed into a theater between 1967 and 1976.

The building was named a New York City Landmark in 1965. It was one of the first buildings to get this special recognition.

In 2009, The Public Theater started a campaign to raise money for a big renovation. The $35 million renovation began on March 9, 2010. The building reopened on October 4, 2012, after a $40 million update.

Public Works Productions List

The Public Works program brings together different groups of people from New York City. They watch theater, join workshops, and perform in a big show with professional actors. These shows happen at Shakespeare in the Park.

See also

In Spanish: Teatro Público del Festival de Shakespeare de Nueva York para niños