Joseph Papp

Joseph Papp (born Joseph Papirofsky; June 22, 1921 – October 31, 1991) was an American theatrical producer and director. He established The Public Theater in what had been the Astor Library Building in lower Manhattan. There, Papp created a year-round producing home to focus on new plays and musicals. Among numerous examples of these were the works of David Rabe, Ntozake Shanges For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf, Charles Gordones No Place to Be Somebody (the first off-Broadway play to win the Pulitzer Prize), and Papps production of Michael Bennetts Pulitzer Prize–winning musical, A Chorus Line. Papp also founded Shakespeare in the Park, helped to develop other off-Broadway theatres and worked to preserve the historic Broadway Theatre District.

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