Guide to the Public Theater: Everything you need to know about the renowned Off-Broadway venue

With influential shows like Hair, Hamilton, and Fun Home getting their starts here, this East Village institution is a must-visit for exciting new theatre.

You may have heard of famous Broadway shows like *Hair, Hamilton, and A Chorus Line, but do you know where they all got their start? That would be The Public Theater, the East Village mainstay where numerous critically acclaimed musicals premiered.

But even if you are familiar with the famous Off-Broadway venue, there may be things you don’t know about the theatre’s history. For instance, did you know it’s housed in what used to be a public library? Or that the theatre has been nominated for hundreds of awards, including dozens of Tony Awards and Pulitzer Prizes?

Dive into everything you need to know about the Public Theater, with information on its multiple performance spaces, the famous productions that have graced its stages, and the best spots to eat and drink before attending a show there. Then, make sure you get tickets to a show at the Public Theater and see what makes it one of New York City’s most famous performing arts institutions.

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The history of The Public Theater

The Public Theater is a non-profit theatre (in fact, it’s one of the nation’s first) where countless well-known plays and musicals got their start. Its main building houses five spaces for theatre plus Joe’s Pub, an intimate cabaret-style venue. The Public focuses on making theatre accessible to the public (hence the name!), as it also runs Shakespeare in the Park, an annual slate of free summer performances at Central Park’s Delacorte Theater.

The Public’s history as a New York City theatre dates back to the late 1960s when Joseph Papp, a theatre director and producer, purchased the historic Astor Library and saved it from demolition by eventually turning it into the Public. Earlier, he founded the New York Shakespeare Festival, which would later become Shakespeare in the Park.

Famous productions at The Public Theater

The Public is known for its long list of world-premiere productions that not only went to Broadway, but also have become some of the most well-known plays and musicals of all time. Although we’ve listed just a handful of these shows below, there are dozens more that went on to be nominated for and win Tony Awards, Obie Awards, Drama Desk Awards, Pulitzer Prizes, and more.

Hair

Not only did Hair make its Off-Broadway debut at the Public, but it was also the very first production at the theatre as we know it. A rock musical following a group of anti-war hippies in New York City during the Vietnam War, Hair later transferred to Broadway (after a brief stint at The Cheetah, a discothèque, following the Public’s production).

A Chorus Line

A Chorus Line made its Public debut in 1975, transferred to Broadway in the same year, and stayed open until 1990, which made it the longest-running Broadway show at the time. The show, which follows a day in the life of a group of Broadway dancers auditioning to be in the chorus line of a show, won a whopping nine Tony Awards and a Pulitzer Prize.

The Normal Heart

Playwright and gay rights activist Larry Kramer wrote The Normal Heart, a play about the AIDS crisis that premiered at the Public in 1985. It wasn’t until 2011 that this moving drama would make its Broadway debut, following runs in Los Angeles and London as well as an Off-Broadway revival. The play is semi-autobiographical and follows Ned Weeks, a gay writer and activist who fights to bring awareness to the disease killing gay men at the time.

Fun Home

Premiering at the Public in 2013, Fun Home is a musical based on the coming-of-age graphic novel of the same name by Alison Bechdel, focusing on her sexuality and family relationships. The Public’s production went on to win the Lucille Lortel Award, New York Drama Critics' Circle Award, and Obie Award for Best Musical. It went on to transfer to Broadway, where it also won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

Hamilton

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s famous musical Hamilton took the theatre world by storm when it debuted at the Public in 2015, resulting in a months-long sold-out run. When it made its Broadway transfer later that year, it also sold out performances months in advance. Going on to win 11 Tony Awards and a Pulitzer Prize, the musical tells the story of Alexander Hamilton, with rap and hip-hop music and lyrics.

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Suffs

Before it marched onto Broadway and won 2024 Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Original Score, Suffs premiered at the Public in 2022. Shaina Taub's musical centers on lesser-known figures in the women's suffrage movement and not just the progress they made, but the conflicts and differences they had to overcome to do so.

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Hell's Kitchen

As of 2024, one of the Public's most recent hits is Hell's Kitchen, a coming-of-age musical loosely inspired by the upbringing of Alicia Keys in the title NYC neighborhood. Set to her chart-topping, Grammy-winning R&B songs, the musical debuted in the Public in 2023 and transferred to Broadway in 2024. Original cast members Maleah Joi Moon (as Ali, the character inspired by a young Keys) and Kecia Lewis (as Miss Liza Jane, Ali's influential piano teacher) won Tony Awards for their performances.

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Things to do in the East Village before seeing a show at the Public Theater

Located in the East Village, the Public Theater has plenty to offer theatregoers to keep themselves busy before a show. Read on for some of the best activities in the East Village to turn your trip to the Public Theater into a day brimming with interesting things to do.

Vintage shopping

The East Village is one of the best neighborhoods for thrifting and vintage shopping, with dozens of stores to choose from. You can head to popular stores like Buffalo Exchange and L Train Vintage, which have a few other locations around the city.

Or, check out more niche stores like Search and Destroy, which is known for its collection of vintage punk apparel and accessories, or Fabulous Fanny's, which offers unique vintage eyewear.

Tompkins Square Park

The main park in the East Village is Tompkins Square Park, offering plenty of green space to wander through. You may catch a farmer’s market, musical performances, or even the annual Halloween Dog Parade.

Comedy clubs

There are many other performance spaces in the East Village in addition to the Public, including several places to see live comedy. Check out the New York Comedy Club, the East Village Stand Up Comedy Club, or the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre.

Where to eat and drink before a show at The Public Theater

There is a seemingly limitless number of eateries in the East Village, spanning just about every type of cuisine (and every budget) you could want. The East Village is especially ideal for cheap eats, with tons of different spots to grab anything from pierogies to smash burgers, but you can also find some higher-end sit down restaurants and bars.

The Library at the Public

Before or after a Public show, you can't find a place more convenient than the restaurant located right inside the theatre. Lined with books and sporting a refined atmosphere, the Library is designed to emulate a place where writers and playwrights would meet, eat, work, and drink. It's on the upscale side, but worth it for a special night out.

Address: 425 Lafayette St.
Price: $$$

Tompkins Square Bagels

This East Village bagel spot is one of the most popular in the city, known for its kettle-boiled bagels, wide array of cream cheese spreads, and delicious breakfast sandwiches. Get a classic bacon, egg, and cheese on your bagel of choice, or be adventurous and try a unique spread like the chocolate chip cookie dough or wasabi cream cheese.

Address: 165 Avenue A
Price: $-$$

Veselka

Famous for its pierogies, Veselka is a Ukrainian eatery in the East Village (and now also in Grand Central Terminal and Williamsburg, Brooklyn). Veselka serves a variety of traditional Ukrainian food, such as beef stroganoff, borscht, stuffed cabbage, blintzes, goulash, and more, as well as delicious Ukrainian-inspired brunch fare perfect for a pre-matinee meal.

Address: 144 2nd Ave.
Price: $$

Taqueria St. Marks

Believe it or not, there are still places in the city where you can get a taco for under $5 — and one delicious spot to do it is at Taqueria St. Marks. Before your show, you can get a margarita, tacos, and share guac and chips for less than $30 a person — a near-herculean feat in Manhattan. It stays open until midnight, so you can also head here for a late-night bite after your show.

Address: 79 St Marks Pl.
Price: $

Veniero’s Pasticceria & Caffe

For a sweet treat after dining — or after your show, since it stays open until 11 p.m. on weekends — head to Veniero’s for an assortment of Italian pastries and more. Enjoy an espresso with cannoli, a slice of tiramisu or cheesecake, or an array of Italian cookies at this Italian bakery that has been around for over 130 years.

Address: 342 E 11th St.
Price: $-$$

Death & Co

One of the most well-known cocktail bars in the area, Death & Co is an upscale spot to grab libations after your show to keep the night going. It’s won numerous awards for its inventive concoctions, ensuring that everyone will find something to their taste — but it might be hard to narrow it down with such an amazing list.

Address: 433 E 6th St.
Price: $$$

Get tickets to a show at The Public Theater

Now that you’re an expert on both The Public Theater and the East Village, you can start to plan your visit — but first you’ll have to decide what show you want to see! Click the link below and learn about what current and upcoming shows are available to discover — you never know which one could be the next Broadway blockbuster.

Get tickets to Public Theater shows now.

Photo credit: Hell's Kitchen and Suffs at The Public Theater. (Photos by Joan Marcus)