What Does The Public Theater Do?

Total employees487
HeadquartersNew York
Founded1957

The Public Theater is a renowned non-profit theater organization in New York City, founded by Joseph Papp in 1954 as the New York Shakespeare Festival. It is dedicated to developing and producing artistically innovative and socially conscious works from a diverse range of voices. Key programs include the free Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, new play development through initiatives like the Emerging Writers Group, and a wide array of productions at its multi-venue home in the historic Astor Library building. The Public is committed to making theater accessible to all and has launched numerous groundbreaking plays and musicals that have gone on to Broadway and international acclaim, including 'Hair,' 'A Chorus Line,' and 'Hamilton.'

Where Is The Public Theater's Headquarters?

The Public Theater officeThe Public Theater officeThe Public Theater officeThe Public Theater office
*Images sourced via web search. Rights belong to original owners

HQ Function

Serves as the primary administrative hub, housing multiple performance venues, rehearsal spaces, and offices for artistic, production, and administrative staff.

Notable Features:

Historic Astor Library building, housing six distinct theater spaces (Anspacher, Newman, LuEsther Hall, Shiva, Martinson Hall) and Joe's Pub, a renowned cabaret space.

Work Culture:

Dynamic, collaborative, and mission-driven, fostering artistic innovation, inclusivity, and a commitment to community engagement. Fast-paced environment dedicated to producing high-quality, thought-provoking theater.

HQ Significance:

A cultural landmark in NYC, central to the American theater landscape for developing and premiering influential works. The building itself is a historic architectural treasure.

Values Reflected in HQ: Accessibility (through design and programming), artistic excellence, community congregation, and the preservation of cultural heritage combined with forward-looking artistic development.

Location:

While primarily based in New York City, The Public Theater achieves global reach through the international licensing and production of its developed works, many of which (like 'Hamilton' and 'A Chorus Line') have toured worldwide. Its artists and productions influence theater globally, and it sometimes co-produces with international companies or presents international artists at its festivals like the former Under the Radar festival.

Street Address:

425 Lafayette Street

City:

New York

State/Province:

NY

Country:

USA

Where Else Does The Public Theater Operate Around the World?

New York, NY/USA

Address: Delacorte Theater, Central Park (mid-park, enter at 81st St & Central Park West or 79th St & Fifth Ave)

To provide free, accessible, high-quality Shakespearean productions to diverse audiences from across New York City and beyond, fostering community and cultural enrichment in a unique open-air setting.

Buying Intent Signals for The Public Theater

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right accounts at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Who's Leading The Public Theater? Meet the Executive Team

As of April 2025, The Public Theater' leadership includes:

Oskar Eustis - Artistic Director
Patrick Willingham - Executive Director
Shanta Thake - Ehrenkranz Chief Artistic Officer
Stephen L. Kocis - Chief Financial Officer
Marya J. Spring Cordes - Chief Operations and People Officer
Tom McCann - Chief Advancement Officer

Who's Investing in The Public Theater?

The Public Theater has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

Major Foundations (e.g., Ford Foundation, Mellon Foundation, LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust)
Government Agencies (e.g., NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts)
Corporate Sponsors
Individual Philanthropists and Members

What Leadership Changes Has The Public Theater Seen Recently?

Hire2
Exits0

The Public Theater strengthened its executive leadership in the past year with key appointments in finance and advancement.

New Appointments:

Stephen L. Kocis, Stephen L. Kocis appointed as new Chief Financial Officer to oversee financial strategy and operations.
Tom McCann, Tom McCann joined as Chief Advancement Officer to lead fundraising and development efforts.

What Technology (Tech Stack) Is Used byThe Public Theater?

Discover the tools The Public Theater uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

The Public Theater Email Formats and Examples

The Public Theater commonly uses the [first initial][last name]@publictheater.org email format for its staff. For example, Jane Doe would be jdoe@publictheater.org.

[first_initial][last]@publictheater.org

Format

oeustis@publictheater.org

Example

85%

Success rate

What's the Latest News About The Public Theater?

BroadwayWorld • May 14, 2024

The Public Theater news title: Photos: Go Inside Opening Night of JORDANS at The Public Theater

The Public Theater celebrated opening night of 'JORDANS' by Ife Olujobi, directed by Whitney White. The production runs through June 2 in the LuEsther Hall....more

Playbill • April 29, 2024

The Public Theater news title: Jelani Alladin, Krysta Rodriguez, Gavin Creel, More Will Star in Public Works' The Tempest

The Public Theater has announced casting for its upcoming Public Works musical adaptation of The Tempest, running August 27-September 8 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park as part of the free Shakespeare in the Park season....more

New York Times • February 13, 2024

The Public Theater news title: Public Theater Puts Under the Radar Festival on Hiatus

The Public Theater announced that its influential Under the Radar festival, a showcase for experimental and international theater, will go on hiatus in 2025 due to financial constraints, with plans to re-evaluate its future....more

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