Joseph Papp
Joseph Papp | |
---|---|
Born | Joseph Papirofsky June 22, 1921 New York City, U.S. |
Died | October 31, 1991 New York City, U.S. | (aged 70)
Occupation(s) | Producer, director |
Spouse(s) | Peggy Marie Bennion[1] Gail Bovard Merrifield[2] |
Children | 5 |
Joseph Papp (born Joseph Papirofsky; June 22, 1921 – October 31, 1991) was an American
Early life
Papp was born as Joseph Papirofsky in the
Career
Papp founded the New York Shakespeare Festival (now called
Founder of the Public Theater
Papp spent much of his career promoting his idea of free Shakespeare in New York City. With Brooks Atkinson's blessing, our world changed overnight. Suddenly in our audience of neighbors in T-shirts and jeans appeared men in white shirts, jackets and ties, and ladies in summer dresses. Suddenly we were "the play to see", and everything changed. We were in a hit that would have a positive effect on my career, as well as Joe's, but I missed the shouting. I missed the feeling of not knowing what might happen next or how that play would that night move an audience unafraid of talking back.[8]
By age 41, after Papp had established a permanent base for his free summer Shakespeare performances in Central Park's
At the Public Theater, Papp's focus moved away from the Shakespeare classics and toward new work. Notable Public Theater productions included
Among all the plays and musicals that Papp produced, he is perhaps best known for four productions that later transferred to Broadway runs: Hair, The Pirates of Penzance, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf and A Chorus Line.[3] The last of these originated with a series of taped interviews, at the Public, of dancers' reminiscences, overseen by director/choreographer Michael Bennett. Papp had not kept the rights to produce Hair, and he did not gain from its Broadway transfer. But he kept the rights to A Chorus Line, and the show's earnings became a continuous financial support for Papp's work. It received 12 Tony Award nominations and won nine of them, including Best Musical, in addition to the 1976 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It ran for 6,137 performances, becoming the longest-running production in Broadway history up to that time. The show pioneered the workshop system for developing musicals, revolutionizing the way Broadway musicals were created thereafter, and many of the precedents for workshops' aesthetics and contract agreements were set by Papp, Bennett and A Chorus Line.[citation needed]
Outdoor performances at the Delacorte Theatre
Delacorte Theatre productions introduced many new actors and actresses to outdoor
Shakespeare in the Park was not exclusively for Shakespeare. In the summer of 1977
Papp was a pioneer in a commitment to
Fostering the growth of New York theatre
Papp fostered other theatre throughout New York City, in particular the development of numerous
"Save the Theatres" effort
Papp took a keen interest in preservation of the historic
Although Papp was unsuccessful in saving the Morosco or the Helen Hayes, at his encouragement Congressman Donald J. Mitchell of New York introduced legislation in the United States Congress (97th Congress – H.R.6885) with 13 co-sponsors,[a] to designate a "Broadway/Times Square Theatre District National Historic Site" in Manhattan. The Mitchell bill would have required the United States to provide assistance in the preservation of the historical, cultural, and architectural character of the site and in its restoration. It directed the National Park Service to designate theatre preservation sites and other appropriate real property within the site as national historic landmarks if they met the criteria for national historic landmarks, and would have prohibited the demolition or alteration of real property located within the site unless such demolition or alteration would contribute to the preservation, restoration, or enhancement of the site for traditional legitimate theatre purposes. Among other things, it would have established a Federally chartered citizens advisory group to be chaired by Papp, known as the "Broadway/Times Square Theatre District Preservation Commission".[17]
Faced with fierce opposition and extensive lobbying against its passage by Mayor Ed Koch's administration and Manhattan developers,[14] the bill was not enacted into law, but the ultimate effect of the "Save the Theatres" effort was to slow destruction of the old Theater District enough to eventually ensure preservation of a number of other historic playhouses and a measure of the District's original atmosphere and historic character.[18][19]
Death
Joseph Papp died of prostate cancer at age 70, on October 31, 1991. He is buried in the Baron Hirsch Cemetery on Staten Island.[20] His son, Tony, died of complications of AIDS only months before Joseph Papp's death. Papp was survived by his fourth wife, Gail Merrifield Papp, a partner in the Public Theatre.
Legacy
In large part due to the "Save the Theatres" preservation effort led by Papp in the 1980s, the
In 2000 the Joseph Papp Children's Humanitarian Fund[21] was founded. The Fund serves as the humanitarian arm of international Jewish children's club Tzivos Hashem's, activities in the Ukraine. Papp, along with Rabbi Marc Schneier, co-founded the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding to strengthen ties between Blacks and Jews.
Papp's biography Joe Papp: An American Life was written by journalist Helen Epstein and published in 1996.[10]
William Finn's 2003 album Elegies: A Song Cycle includes the song "Joe Papp," dedicated to Papp's contributions to New York theatre and personal friendship with Finn.[22]
Recognition
- 1986: Received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.[23]
- 1992: The Public Theater, home of the New York Shakespeare Festival, renamed the Joseph Papp Public Theater in honor of its founder.[24]
- 2017: The intersection of Lafayette Street and Astor Place, the longtime home of Public Theater, co-named in honor of the Public's founder, Joseph Papp.[25]
Further reading
- ISBN 978-0-306-80676-6.
- ISBN 978-0-7679-3168-7.
See also
References
- ISBN 978-0-7679-3169-4. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
- ^ "Anthony Papp, Jewelry Designer, 29". The New York Times. June 4, 1991. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7679-3169-4
- ^ "Joseph Papp Biography (1921–1991)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
- ^ Ducker, Eric. "Q&A: Veteran Music Video Director Diane Martel on Her Controversial Videos for Robin Thicke and Miley Cyrus". grantland.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
- ^ Benns, Sway. "Diane Martel". flaunt.com. Flaunt Magazine. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
- ^ Elliott, Drew (June 30, 2015). "Inside the Bizarre and Brilliant Mind of "Blurred Lines" / "We Can't Stop" Director Diane Martel". papermag.com. Paper. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
- ISBN 978-0-684-80701-0, p.117.
- ^ "Land of Lost Souls," by John Lahr, The New Yorker, November 24, 2008.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-306-80676-6. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
- ^ O'Haire, Patricia. "Dickens lends the Bard a Hand", The New York Daily News, 13 September 1982.
- ^ Shubert Organization, Inc. v. Landmarks Preservation Commission of the City of New York and Save the Theatres, Inc. Archived May 21, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, Supreme Court of New York, Appellate Division, First Department, May 16, 1991; accessed March 10, 2013
- ^ Corwin, Betty. "Theatre on film and tape archive" Archived September 21, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, International Association of Libraries and Museums of the Performing Arts, accessed May 10, 2013
- ^ a b "City Panel Near Vote On Save-The-Theaters Proposals". The New York Times. New York City. April 15, 1984. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
- ^ "Proposal to Save Morosco and Helen Hayes Theaters" Archived May 20, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, LHP Architects, accessed March 10, 2013.
- ^ Bill Summary & Status – 97th Congress (1981–1982) – H.R.6885 - Co-Sponsors Thomas.loc.gov. Retrieved December 10, 2015
- ^ H.R. 6885, Library of Congress[permanent dead link]
- ^ Sixth Avenue to east of Eighth Avenue, and includes Times Square.
- ^ "New York City Department of City Planning". NYC.gov. Archived from the original on March 14, 2013. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
- ^ Blau, Eleanor (November 2, 1991). "Joseph Papp Is Remembered in Words and Song". New York Times. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
- ^ "Tzivos Hashem - Divisions". tzivos-hashem.org. October 9, 2007. Archived from the original on October 9, 2007. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
- ^ William Finn (Ft. Christian Borle, Keith Byron Kirk & Michael Rupert) – Joe Papp, retrieved June 6, 2018
- American Academy of Achievement.
- ^ Rule, Sheila (April 24, 1992). "The Public Theater Is Renamed for Joseph Papp". The New York Times.
- ^ "Joseph Papp Way to Honor Public Theater Founder Joe Papp". Theater Mania.
Notes
- Peter W. Rodino, Jr. (NJ), Rep. Louis Stokes (OH), Rep. Ted Weiss (NY), Rep. George C. Wortley (NY), and Rep. Ron Wyden (OR).[16]
External links
- Joe Papp Public Theater
- Joseph Papp at the Internet Broadway Database
- Joseph Papp at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
- Joseph Papp at IMDb
- Robert Armin The rally to save the theatres : a chronicle (videorecording) OCLC 79435610 - New York Public Library
- Robert Armin The rally to save the theatres : a chronicle (videorecording) - via YouTube
- "Original videotapes by Robert Armin taken during the rally to save the Morosco and Helen Hayes Theatres in March 1982. This two hour compilation contains complete speeches and play reading excerpts by dozens of Broadway celebrities including Jason Robards, Liza Minnelli, Lauren Bacall, Christopher Reeve, Martha Scott, Comden and Green, Anne Meara, John Rubinstein, Colleen Dewhurst, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Gloria Foster, Carole Shelley, Tammy Grimes, Maureen McGovern, Lee Richardson, Arlene Dahl, Arthur Miller, Jules Feiffer, and Joe Papp"
- Robert Armin Morosco 200 (Save the Theatres 2) (videorecording) - via YouTube
- "This 63 minute video was shot during the final Save the Theatres Rally on March 22, 1982 when almost 200 protesters, led by Joe Papp, peacefully trespassed on the empty lot next to the Morosco Theatre on West 45th Street. Each person was courteously loaded into a police van and taken to the Midtown North police station where they received a pink summons to appear later in court. Among the stars present were , and many more."
- Charles A. Birnbaum, President & CEO, The The Huffington Post
- Death of a Theater, 1982 – Brooklyn Rail