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 organization 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 talents.

The Public Theater's first big show was the musical Hair in 1967. Since Joseph Papp, other leaders have guided the theater. These include JoAnne Akalaitis and George C. Wolfe. Today, Oskar Eustis is the Artistic Director. Patrick Willingham is the Executive Director.

The Public Theater's main building is at 425 Lafayette Street. It used to be the Astor Library in Lower Manhattan. This building has five different theater spaces. It also has Joe's Pub, a cool place for music and spoken-word performances. The Public Theater also runs the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. Here, they have put on "Shakespeare in the Park" shows for free since 1954.

Some recent and very popular shows include:

• The Merchant of Venice (2010)
• Here Lies Love (2013)
• Fun Home (2013)
• Eclipsed (2015)
• Hamilton (2015)

Theater Programs and Events

The Public Theater offers many exciting programs each year. 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. These talks help people discuss the play's ideas. Some plays from Public LAB have become full productions. An example is Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. It was very popular and moved to Broadway.

Public LAB Shakespeare

In 2011, Public LAB added Public LAB SHAKESPEARE. This program explores William Shakespeare's plays in new ways. It helps The Public Theater create American versions of Shakespeare's works. The first show for this program was Timon of Athens in 2011. Richard Thomas played the main character.

Mobile Unit and Public Works

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

The Public also started Public Works in 2013. This program brings together many different people from New York City. They watch theater, join workshops, and perform in a big show. Professional actors perform alongside community members in these Public Works shows. Past productions include The Tempest and The Odyssey.

Public Forum and Under the Radar Festival

The Public Forum started in 2010. It is a series of talks and debates. Important people from arts, politics, and media share their ideas. These events discuss topics from the plays and current world news. Famous people like Stephen Sondheim and Alec Baldwin have taken part.

The Public Theater also hosts the annual Under the Radar Festival. This festival shows new theater from all over the world. Over the past 12 years, the festival has featured over 194 groups from 40 countries.

Helping New Artists

The Public Theater helps new writers through its Emerging Writers Group. This group supports playwrights at the start of their careers. It is part of The Public Writers Initiative.

The Public Studio is another program. It 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 educational programs for teenagers. These include Shakespeare Spring Break and Summer ShakeUP. They are for teens who want to learn about and perform Shakespeare.

Suzan-Lori Parks, a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, created Watch Me Work. She performed this piece in 2011. She worked on her writing in the lobby of The Public Theater.

Famous Shows and Awards

Many shows from The Public Theater have become big hits on Broadway. Three of the most successful shows are:

• Hair (1967)
• A Chorus Line (1975)
• Hamilton (2015)

The Public Theater has won many awards. They have won 54 Tony Awards and 152 Obie Awards. They also have 42 Drama Desk Awards and five Pulitzer Prizes. Over 55 Public Theater shows have moved to Broadway. These include Topdog/Underdog, Take Me Out, and Fun Home.

The Astor Library Building

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

William Backhouse Astor Sr. built the library. He was the son of the library's founder, John Jacob Astor. A German architect named Alexander Saeltzer designed the building. It was built in a style popular in Germany at the time. The building was expanded twice, but the additions matched the original design perfectly.

In 1920, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society bought the building. By 1965, it was empty and almost torn down. The Public Theater, then called the New York Shakespeare Festival, convinced the city to buy it. They wanted to use it as a theater. Giorgio Cavaglieri changed the building into a theater between 1967 and 1976.

The building became 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. They wanted to fix up the old building. The $35 million renovation began on March 9, 2010. Famous actors like Liev Schreiber were there. Joe's Pub was also renovated. The building reopened on October 4, 2012. The renovation cost $40 million and was designed by Ennead Architects.

Public Works Productions List

Public Works started in 2013. It brings together people from all over New York City. They watch theater, join workshops, and perform in a big show. Professional actors perform alongside community members. These shows happen at Shakespeare in the Park.

Two Public Works shows, Twelfth Night and As You Like It, were later performed as full Shakespeare in the Park productions.

Images for kids

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  The Astor Library in the late 1800s

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  A drawing of the Library published in 1900

See also

In Spanish: The Public Theater para niños