The Public Theater

The Public Theater, a.k.a the Joseph Papp Public Theater, a.k.a the New York Shakespeare Festival Theater, is located on Lafayette Street, across from the Colonnade (see previous post).

This theater of many names was established about 60 years ago as one of the first non-profit theaters, with various venues scattered throughout the city. The theater I am talking about here can also be called the Delacorte Theater, a historical landmark that hosts five theaters, Joe’s Pub, the Mobile Shakespeare Unit, a touring troupe that performs for audiences across the five boroughs.

Now while the non-profit theater had been performing since 1954, the Lafayette location of the theaters was established in 1967 in the historic Astor Library, and opened with a production of Hair. In 2012, renovations occurred on the building, opening up the building to the street and creating a piazza for audiences, artists and the public.

©Danielle Elmers