Public Theater
Public Theater location and directions
Public Theater
Accessibility
Accessible entrances, seating, and restrooms. Assistive Listening Devices. ASL interpreted, Open Caption and Audio Descriptions at select performances or on demand by request.
About Public Theater
Joseph Papp founded The Public Theater in 1954 as the Shakespeare Workshop. The organization moved into its current home on Lafayette Street in Lower Manhattan in 1967.
The Public Theater building was under risk of demolition until the Public persuaded the city council to sell them the building for use as a theatre. As a result, the building was granted New York City landmark status in 1965, and architect Giorgio Cavaglieri converted it into a theatre in 1967.
The company’s inaugural production in its new home was the world premiere of Hair, which also marked its first non-Shakespeare offering. The building is comprised of five performance spaces: the Anspacher Theater (which has a 275-seat capacity), LuEsther Hall (160 seats), Martinson Theater (199 seats), Newman Theater (299 seats), and Shiva Theater (99 seats).
The Public complex also include office spaces; the restaurant and bar The Library; and Joe’s Pub, a cabaret-style venue used for smaller musical revues and soloists. The company also operates the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, which has been home to free Shakespeare in the Park productions during the summer since 1954.
How to get to The Public Theater off Broadway
The Public Theater is closest to the Astor Place subway stop on the 6 line and the 8 St - NYU stop on the R and W lines. The closest bus stop is Lafayette St./Astor Pl. on the M1 line.
Restaurants near The Public Theater
Popular restaurants near The Public Theater include Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ, Vic's (Italian), and Atla (Mexican). The Public also has an in-house bar and restaurant, The Library (American).
