Patrick Willingham News

The Public Theater will begin performances for the 18th annual UNDER THE RADAR FESTIVAL tomorrow, Wednesday, January 4. Learn more about the lineup and how to get tickets!

La MaMa and The Public’s Under the Radar Festival will present King Gilgamesh & the Man of the Wild, bringing to New York audiences a moving one-act production that fuses live music with storytelling to share co-creator’s Ahmed Moneka's personal journey as an Iraqi actor-refugee in North America.

The 2022 Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy Fat Ham by James Ijames will make its Broadway premiere in 2023. The Public’s Associate Artistic Director and Resident Director Saheem Ali returns to direct the complete original Off-Broadway cast, including Nikki Crawford as “Tedra,” Chris Herbie Holland as “Tio,” Billy Eugene Jones as “Rev” and “Pap,” Adrianna Mitchell as “Opal,” Calvin Leon Smith as “Larry,” Marcel Spears as “Juicy,” and Benja Kay Thomas as “Rabby.”

The Public Theater has announced casting for the world premiere of THE HARDER THEY COME, a musical adaptation of the classic Jamaican film produced and directed by Perry Henzell and co-written with Trevor Rhone.

The Public Theater will begin performances for the New York premiere of WHERE WE BELONG, written and performed by Madeline Sayet and directed by Mei Ann Teo, with a Joseph Papp Free Performance on Friday, October 28.

During A RAISIN IN THE SUN’s preview performances through Opening Night, theatergoers will be able to visit To Sit A While, a statue of Lorraine Hansberry by sculptor Alison Saar, at Astor Place.

The Public Theater and Elevator Repair Service will begin previews for the New York premiere production of BALDWIN AND BUCKLEY AT CAMBRIDGE with a Joseph Papp Free Performance on Saturday, September 24 in the Anspacher Theater.

The Public Theater, the Barnard Center for Research on Women and the Ntozake Shange Literary Trust have announced the establishment of The Ntozake Shange Social Justice Theater Residency. This rotating two-year playwriting residency is named in honor of Public Theater artist and Barnard alumna (Class of 1970) Ntozake Shange.

The Public Theater has announced complete casting for the world premiere of PLAYS FOR THE PLAGUE YEAR, written by and featuring Pulitzer Prize winner and Public Theater Writer-in-Residence Suzan-Lori Parks and directed by Bessie Award winner Niegel Smith. 

The Public Theater has has received an Artist Employment Program grant from Creatives Rebuild New York. Designed to support employment opportunities for artists, the program is funding 98 collaborations involving a dynamic group of 300 artists employed by community-based organizations, municipalities, and tribal governments across New York State.

The Public Theater and Elevator Repair Service will kick off The Public’s 55th anniversary season with the New York premiere production of BALDWIN AND BUCKLEY AT CAMBRIDGE. BALDWIN AND BUCKLEY AT CAMBRIDGE will begin performances in the Anspacher Theater with a Joseph Papp Free Performance on Saturday, September 24.

The Public Theater has announced casting for the upcoming revival of A RAISIN IN THE SUN written by Lorraine Hansberry and directed by Tony Award nominee Robert O’Hara. The cast of A RAISIN IN THE SUN will include Francois Battiste (Walter Lee Younger), Tonya Pinkins (Lena Younger), and more.

The Public Theater will begin previews for the Free Shakespeare in the Park production of Public Works’ AS YOU LIKE IT on Wednesday, August 10. Continuing the 60th Anniversary Season at The Delacorte Theater, Public Works’ AS YOU LIKE IT will run through Sunday, September 11, with an official press opening on Tuesday, August 30.

Today's top stories include casting for the upcoming Broadway revival of Topdog/Underdog, coming to Broadway this season! The production will star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Corey Hawkins. Plus, Legally Blonde will embark on a non-equity tour, get a sneak peek at the Museum of Broadway, and more!

The Public Theater announced the schedule today for The Public’s 2022-23 Season at the Public Theater. Learn all about the shows, schedule and how to get tickets.

Find out this year's nominees and winners for Drama League Awards. The 2022 Awards will recognize eligible Broadway and Off-Broadway (non-virtual only) productions that began preview performances between March 16, 2021, and April 23, 2022.

The Tony Nominated Broadway musical Girl From The North Country announced that the production was professionally captured prior to its re-opening on April 29th for future use.

Last night, Girl From The North Country hosted a special performance and gala to celebrate their third time opening on Broadway, as well as their seven Tony Award nominations, including “Best New Musical.” 

Today, it was announced that the North American Tour of the acclaimed Girl From The North Country, nominated for 7 Tony Awards including Best Musical, will have its technical rehearsals and tour premiere at Hennepin Theatre Trust's historic Orpheum Theatre in the Fall of 2023. 

The Public Theater and National Black Theatre will begin previews on Thursday, May 12 for the upcoming New York Premiere of FAT HAM, written by James Ijames and directed by Public Theater Associate Artistic Director and Resident Director Saheem Ali.