Stage Directions: In the past seven years, The Public Theater has offered New York – and engaged New York in – some of the most joyous theatrical undertakings around: the Public Works productions at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, exuberant shows mixing professional and amateur artists together for inventive, large-scale new adaptations of classic works. But these productions, which have expanded from three performances initially to two long weekends this past summer, are actually just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the efforts of Public Works, the culmination of ongoing connections with participating community groups throughout the city.
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I love this idea of combining theater with the community! A lot of the times, regional theater's or community theaters attempt to bridge the gap between the community and the arts, but sometimes that reach is not enough. These Public Works shows bring together a large community of artists within New York, and the surrounding community with local high school marching bands or religious groups. It also is great that many of the shows they put on focus on fantasy and fables more than realism, as though realism is a great way to engage the community in heavy topics, it also is needed to engage the community with story telling. Sometimes the idea of story telling purely to tell a story is lost in the confusion of justification for why this work is published. There doesn't always have to be a larger issue a work is trying to address. Sometimes it exists solely to entertain. I hope Public Works continues its mission and outreach to the public, at least so I can go see a show the next time I'm in New York.
I got the chance to observe a little bit of the Public’s Public Works Initiative in real time this past summer while working on Hercules. It was very impressive watching the management team schedule rehearsals – full/partial cast rehearsals, dance rehearsals, music sessions, ensemble practice time, puppet rehearsal – across 6 different spaces (often with many of them happening at the same time) for all of these people. It gives community members from all over the city and the boroughs a chance to be a part of professional theatre and interact up close with amazing artists. The community members brought in for the Public Works performances range from young children to senior citizens and chunks or families. What I loved the most was watching these people learn and love to learn more about theatre and art. I got to be in a bunch of puppet rehearsals for Hercules and watching a semi-moody teenager uncertain of why he got into the show go from dragging his feet to being an expressive portion of a hydra and dancing on stage with a smile on his face at opening really warmed my heart. I think it is a wonderful program and I hope it continues to grow in NYC, and perhaps other professional venues as well.
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