Delacorte Theater

Public Charge March 12, 2026 - April 05, 2026 Venue Newman Theater By Julissa Reynoso and Michael J. Chepiga Directed by Doug Hughes In 1982, seven-year-old Julissa immigrates to the U.S from the Dominican Republic. In 2009, she leaves her successful practice at a Wall Street law firm to supervise Caribbean and Central American Affairs for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. PUBLIC CHARGE chronicles the challenging education of a twenty-first century American diplomat as she works with scores of other dedicated public servants to deploy humanitarian aid to an earthquake-ravaged Haiti, navigate the roiling politics of immigration, confront the reality of international espionage, and free a wrongly imprisoned American from a Cuban prison. This bracing world premiere by former United States Ambassador Julissa Reynoso and award-winning playwright Michael J. Chepiga is, at its core, about a group of Americans who believe, sometimes against all appearances to the contrary, that their government might actually be a force for good upon the frighteningly chaotic world stage. Tony Award winner Doug Hughes directs this first-hand account of the principled use of power and the enormous potential of keen intelligence, hard work, and good will to bridge seemingly irreconcilable conflict.  The opinions and characterizations in this piece are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the U.S. government.

On Saturday, January 31, more than 200 artists, elected officials, and community leaders gathered on the steps of The Public Theater for eight hours, holding the floor for humanity, justice, and democracy. Together, they sang, read foundational texts of our democracy, shared words of hope and grief, and stood in community. Featured here Shaina Taub sings her original song “Huddled Masses,” and Jordan E. Cooper performs an original text. The work continues. Join the digital filibuster at ThePublic.NYC/Filibuster. Read and share foundational texts, and post with #PeoplesFilibusterNYC to help hold the floor. #artistsforjustice #artandactivism #democracyinaction #theatre

Laura Benanti performs “Edelweiss” from The Sound of Music and invites the public to sing along at THE PEOPLE’S FILIBUSTER on the steps of The Public Theater. - THE PEOPLE’S FILIBUSTER On Saturday, January 31, The Public Theater stood in solidarity with our neighbors in Minnesota and communities across the country who are grieving, organizing, and demanding accountability in the face of state-sanctioned violence and abuses of power. In this moment of crisis, THE PEOPLE’S FILIBUSTER was presented as a collective interruption—creating space for reflection, accountability, and recommitment to the democratic values we claim as a nation. Through readings, music, and artistic expression, the event protested and contrasted the violence and injustices unfolding around us, while affirming the safety, dignity, and human rights of all people. From 11AM–7PM on the steps of The Public Theater at 425 Lafayette Street, artists, elected officials, community leaders, and neighbors gathered to share seminal texts from the founding of our nation alongside contemporary writings and songs that articulated our shared ideals—not as history alone, but as a living call to action. Artists have always been among the first to name the unspoken, to hear the unheard, and to imagine a more just world. THE PEOPLE’S FILIBUSTER honored that tradition, holding the floor for justice through collective presence, voice, and solidarity. Participants included: Osh Ashruf, Annaleigh Ashford and Joe Tapper, Sara Bareilles, Christine Baranski, Shoshana Bean, Kaitlin Becker, Laura Benanti, Purva Bedi, Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen, Loryn Brantz, Billy Bustamante, Jaime Cepero, Michael Cerveris, Rachel Chavkin, John Ellison Conlee, Jordan E. Cooper, Carrie Coon, Ariana DeBose, Micaela Diamond, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Jessica Hecht, Jeff Hiller, Quiara Alegría Hudes, Amber Iman, Oscar Isaac, Nikki M. James, Elijah Jones, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Tony Kushner, John Leguizamo, Hamish Linklater and Lily Rabe, Jose Llana, Irene Sofia Lucio, Mona Mansour, Rebecca Martinez, Elizabeth Marvel, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Luis A. Miranda Jr., F. Murray Abraham, Cynthia Nixon, Robert O’Hara, Isaac Oliver, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Nicolette Robinson, Heidi Schreck, Leigh Silverman, Shaina Taub, Eric Ting, Dr. Luz Towns-Miranda, Troy Anthony, Bernie Wagenblast, Constance Wu, Public Theater staff, Public Works community members, elected officials, and more. #ThePeoplesFilibuster #LauraBenanti #PublicTheater #ArtistsForJustice #Solidarity #ProtestForHumanity #DemocracyInAction #ArtAndActivism #NYCEvents #LiveArt #CollectiveAction #PublicWorks #LauraBenanti #TheSoundOfMusic

Peter Dinklage recites “For Renée Nicole Good — Killed by I.C.E. on January 7, 2026” by Amanda Gorman at THE PEOPLE’S FILIBUSTER, on the steps of The Public Theater. - THE PEOPLE’S FILIBUSTER On Saturday, January 31, The Public Theater stood in solidarity with our neighbors in Minnesota and communities across the country who are grieving, organizing, and demanding accountability in the face of state-sanctioned violence and abuses of power. In this moment of crisis, THE PEOPLE’S FILIBUSTER was presented as a collective interruption—creating space for reflection, accountability, and recommitment to the democratic values we claim as a nation. Through readings, music, and artistic expression, the event protested and contrasted the violence and injustices unfolding around us, while affirming the safety, dignity, and human rights of all people. From 11AM–7PM on the steps of The Public Theater at 425 Lafayette Street, artists, elected officials, community leaders, and neighbors gathered to share seminal texts from the founding of our nation alongside contemporary writings and songs that articulated our shared ideals—not as history alone, but as a living call to action. Artists have always been among the first to name the unspoken, to hear the unheard, and to imagine a more just world. THE PEOPLE’S FILIBUSTER honored that tradition, holding the floor for justice through collective presence, voice, and solidarity. Participants included: Osh Ashruf, Annaleigh Ashford and Joe Tapper, Sara Bareilles, Christine Baranski, Shoshana Bean, Kaitlin Becker, Laura Benanti, Purva Bedi, Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen, Loryn Brantz, Billy Bustamante, Jaime Cepero, Michael Cerveris, Rachel Chavkin, John Ellison Conlee, Jordan E. Cooper, Carrie Coon, Ariana DeBose, Micaela Diamond, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Jessica Hecht, Jeff Hiller, Quiara Alegría Hudes, Amber Iman, Oscar Isaac, Nikki M. James, Elijah Jones, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Tony Kushner, John Leguizamo, Hamish Linklater and Lily Rabe, Jose Llana, Irene Sofia Lucio, Mona Mansour, Rebecca Martinez, Elizabeth Marvel, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Luis A. Miranda Jr., F. Murray Abraham, Cynthia Nixon, Robert O’Hara, Isaac Oliver, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Nicolette Robinson, Heidi Schreck, Leigh Silverman, Shaina Taub, Eric Ting, Dr. Luz Towns-Miranda, Troy Anthony, Bernie Wagenblast, Constance Wu, Public Theater staff, Public Works community members, elected officials, and more. #ThePeoplesFilibuster #PublicTheater #ArtistsForJustice #Solidarity #ProtestForHumanity #DemocracyInAction #ArtAndActivism #NYCEvents #LiveArt #CollectiveAction #PublicWorks #peterdinklage

Peter Dinklage recites “For Renée Nicole Good — Killed by I.C.E. on January 7, 2026” by Amanda Gorman at THE PEOPLE’S FILIBUSTER, on the steps of The Public Theater.