The Public Theater Announces Block Party and Open House, 10/13

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis and Executive Director Patrick Willingham) will continue to celebrate the $40 million revitalization of its downtown home at Astor Place on Saturday, October 13 with a free block party and open house from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The block party will take place rain or shine on Lafayette Street and will include musical performances from popular Joe’s Pub artists; a sneak peak at some new Public Theater musicals including Giant, Here Lies Love, The Total Bent and Fun Home; and an array of New York City’s favorite food trucks including Go Burger, Korilla BBQ, Rickshaw Dumplings, Gorilla Cheese, The Treats Truck, Solber Pupusas Truck, Valducci’s Pizza, and others (subject to change).

Andrew Carmellini with Michael Oliver, his chef for The Public, will join the food fest with selections from their eclectic, New York-inspired menu like Kielbasa Sandwiches on a Soft Pretzel Roll with Whole Grain Mustard and Sauerkraut, and free Pizza Popcorn, which will be served inside The Public Theater’s renovated building at 425 Lafayette Street. The Public’s new lounge, The Library at The Public, along with the bars at Joe’s Pub and in the revitalized lobby, will be open serving their new selection of specialty cocktails, wine, and draft beer.

Music performances will be presented outdoors during the family-friendly block party and open house. The lineup includes sneak peeks from The Public’s upcoming New York premiere of Giant by Sybille Pearson and Michael John LaChiusa; the world premiere musical Here Lies Love by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim; the Public Lab production of Fun Home by Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron; as well as last season’s Public Lab hit The Total Bent by Stew and Heidi Rodewald; Jessy Carolina & The Hot Mess, the jazz and blues band specializing in American music reminiscent of The Ziegfeld Follies; Sasha Allen of the Tony Award-winning Broadway revival HAIR; the award winning five-string banjo player Tony Trischka; and M.A.K.U. SoundSystem, an eight-member band from Colombia which takes its inspiration from traditional Afro-Colombian rhythms; among others.

The full schedule and more information on all The Public Theater’s rededication events may be found at www.publictheater.org.