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The Public Theatre Receives Renovations

The Public Theatre in New York has recently undergone some renovations. It is the first time since 1967 that it has experienced such significant changes. The changes are not extreme in appearance though they have been long coming and are necessary. A glass canopy has been added to shield people from the rain and a staircase was added which leads up to the entrance. Also, on the inside, there is a mezzanine balcony that projects over the lobby. These changes make a huge difference to the overall experience of the theatre though tourists are unlikely to make mention of them if attending a production while visiting and staying in a five star hotel New York City.

The theatre was founded in 1964 by Joseph Papp and called The Shakespeare Workshop. Papp’s original intent was to promote and showcase the work of up and coming playwrights and performance artists. It is located in Lower Manhattan on Lafayette Street in the former Astor Library. It became the Joseph Papp Public Theatre, which remained its name for years before being shortened to The Public Theatre. It is known for presenting more experimental or edgy work in its five performance spaces.

One of its outreach programs is the famous Shakespeare in the Park, which is a free performance each summer at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. These productions usually feature well known professional actors and are extremely popular to locals and tourists. The Public Theatre is also involved in the promotion of theatre education and sponsors the training of classical actors in its intensive summer workshop known as the Shakespeare Lab. The Public’s productions have won numerous Tony’s, Obie Awards, Drama Desk Awards, Lucille Lortel Awards and even Pulitzers. Many of their productions move on to the prestige and glory of Broadway. Their most famous productions are A Chorus Line and Hair.

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