Delta Air Lines Named Public Theater's Official Airline Sponsor

The Public Theater announced today that Delta Air Lines has become the official airline sponsor of The Public Theater.

"We are so pleased to welcome Delta Air Lines to The Public Theater family," said Executive Director Patrick Willingham. "They are an important part of the tapestry of New York and their sponsorship will help The Public continue to serve our audiences and the dynamic city that Delta also serves."

"Delta is thrilled to become the official airline of one of the most influential arts organizations in New York City," said Gail Grimmett, Delta Senior Vice President - New York. "Delta is privileged to be a part of The Public Theater's important contributions to the culture and diversity of New Yorkers."

DELTA AIR LINES is New York City's largest and fastest-growing carrier with 454 peak-day departures to 109 destinations worldwide from its hubs at New York's LaGuardia Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport and service to more destinations from New York State than any other airline. Delta's Terminal 4 at JFK, a $1.4 billion, state-of-the-art international gateway, opened in May 2013 with a second phase extension of 11 gates expected to be completed by spring 2015. The airline is also investing more than $160 million to expand and update Terminals C and D at LaGuardia. Beginning July 1, 2014, Delta will operate three updated Boeing 757 aircraft, complimenting five widebody Boeing 767 aircraft, with full flat-bed seats on the transcontinental route between New York-JFK and Los Angeles International Airport for a total of eight daily flights. All transcon flights between New York-JFK and Los Angeles and San Francisco will feature full flat-bed seats by summer 2015. The unique Delta Shuttle product offers hourly service to Boston, Chicago (O'Hare) and Washington D.C. Delta's three metropolitan-area airports carried 23.6 million domestic and international passengers in 2013, up from 23.1 million passengers in 2012. Delta and its nearly 9,000 New York-based employees are part of the fabric of the New York community, acting as the official airline of the Yankees, Mets, Knicks, Rangers, Madison Square Garden, Food Bank for New York City, New York Wine and Food and amfAR among many others.

THE PUBLIC THEATER is the only theater in New York that produces Shakespeare, the classics, musicals, contemporary and experimental pieces in equal measure. The Public continues the work of its visionary founder, Joe Papp, by acting as an advocate for the theater as an essential cultural force, and leading and framing dialogue on some of the most important issues of our day. Creating theater for one of the largest and most diverse audience bases in New York City for nearly 60 years, today the Company engages audiences in a variety of venues-including its landmark downtown home at Astor Place, which houses five theaters and Joe's Pub; the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, home to its beloved, free Shakespeare in the Park; and the Mobile Unit, which tours Shakespearean productions for underserved audiences throughout New York City's five boroughs. The Public's wide range of programming includes free Shakespeare in the Park, the bedrock of the Company's dedication to making theater accessible to all; Public Works, a new initiative that is designed to cultivate new connections and new models of engagement with artists, audiences and the community each year; new and experimental stagings at The Public at Astor Place, including Public Lab and Public Studio; and a range of artist and audience development initiatives including its Public Forum series, which brings together theater artists and professionals from a variety of disciplines for discussions that shed light on social issues explored in Public productions. The Public Theater is located on property owned by the City of New York and receives annual support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs; and in October 2012 the landmark building downtown at Astor Place was revitalized to physically manifest the Company's core mission of sparking new dialogues and increasing accessibility for artists and audiences, by dramatically opening up the building to the street and community, and transforming the lobby into a public piazza for artists, students, and audiences. The LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust provides leadership support for The Public Theater's year-round activities. www.publictheater.org

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