Alec Baldwin, Tony Kushner, and More Set for Public Theater Rededication Events

The Public Theater's $40 million revitalization of its downtown home at Astor Place will be unveiled October 4, 2012 and celebrated through a series of events designed to engage the entire New York community and marking a rededication to its founding principles. A physical expression of the Company's core mission of sparking dialogues, fostering artistic development and experimentation and increasing public accessibility, the revitalization project opens up the landmark building to the street and community, and transforms the lobby into a public piazza for artists, students and audiences.

The unveiling and rededication of The Public Theater at Astor Place caps off a milestone year for the Company that has included the 50th anniversary of its free Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte Theater and the expansion of its Mobile Unit, which brings Shakespeare to underserved audiences at prisons, homeless shelters, centers for the elderly and other community venues throughout the five boroughs.

"This beautiful revitalization links the stage and the street, making the building a living manifestation of our mission to create a dynamic, diverse and democratic culture," noted Oskar Eustis, The Public Theater's Artistic Director. "We want to invite the entire city to join us as we celebrate this milestone and begin our next chapter."

The rededication will be marked with eight weeks of events, many of which are free, celebrating the Company's past, looking to its future, and engaging New Yorkers with one of its democratic core values of sparking civic dialogues on important issues of the day. The Public Forum – the Company's celebrated new series of lectures, debates, and discussions – will mark the rededication with a special series of "Duet" programs, pairing an artist who has been important to the life of The Public and a leading voice from outside the world of theater, beginning with a conversation between Alec Baldwin and David Brooks on October 1. The eight weeks of events will also include a rededication ceremony; block party and open house; tours of the historic building on October 6 and 7 as part of the Open House New York program (www.ohny.org); an afternoon discussion with award-winning Public Theater graphic designer Paula Scher; and a series of Movie Nights celebrating The Public's legacy. A schedule of events follows below:

· Public Forum Duet: Alec Baldwin and David Brooks
Monday, Oct. 1
7:00pm
The Public Forum's series of Duet conversations begins with Alec Baldwin (Macbeth at The Public, Jack Donaghy on NBC's "30 Rock," host of the WNYC podcast Here's the Thing) trading views about American politics and culture with New York Times columnist David Brooks (author of The Social Animal, On Paradise Drive, and Bobos in Paradise). Single tickets, priced at $40, and Member tickets, priced at $35, are on sale now and may be purchased at 212-967-7555 (daily noon-8:00pm), www.publictheater.org, or by visiting The Public Theater Box Office, 425 Lafayette Street (Sun & Mon 1:00-6:00pm; Tue-Sat 1:00-7:30pm).

· Rededication Ceremony, October 4
Thursday, Oct. 4
10:00am
Public Theater leadership, artists, and New York City officials join to rededicate The Public Theater at Astor Place; celebratory performances will be included. Free and open to the public. Space is limited; reservations required and may be made at www.publictheater.org.

· Introducing "Shakespeare Machine" by Ben Rubin
Wednesday, Oct. 10
7:30pm-9:30pm
Artist Ben Rubin's large-scale multimedia sculpture, Shakespeare Machine, features 37 LED display screens on which a series of "scenes" made up of text fragments from Shakespeare's 37 plays appear and dance, creating a kaleidoscope of language in motion. The work, which was commissioned through the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs' Percent for Art program, will be suspended from the ceiling of the revitalized lobby and serve as the space's chandelier. The evening will include Shakespeare recitations as well as remarks from Patrick Willingham, Executive Director of The Public Theater, artist Ben Rubin and others. Free and open to the public. Space is limited; reservations required and may be made at www.publictheater.org.

· Astor Hours Cocktails
Thursday, Oct. 11
10:30pm-1:30am
Chef Andrew Carmellini, the newest addition to the Joe's Pub Partners team that provides food and beverage for The Public, hosts Astor Hours Cocktails at The Public Theater. Music will be presented by Joe's Pub at The Public Theater, with bands performing in the lobby, Joe's Pub, and the new Library at The Public. Tickets are available through the NYC Wine and Food Festival at www.nycwff.org.

· Block Party and Open House
Saturday, Oct. 13
12:00pm-5:00pm
Lafayette Street between Astor Place and West 4th Street will be partially closed to traffic for a celebratory block party that will include performances from Joe's Pub at The Public, sneak peeks from The Public's 2012-2013 season and gourmet food trucks. Tours of the revitalized Public Theater at Astor Place will be available. Free.

· February House Original Cast Recording Release Event
Tuesday, Oct. 16
7:00pm-8:30pm
The original cast and band of The Public Theater's February House reunite to celebrate the original cast recording's release with an evening of songs from the critically acclaimed musical. With a score that is as eclectic and brilliant as the tenants of 7 Middagh Street, the February House cast recording – which releases on October 16 – shifts effortlessly between contemporary art song, stripped-down folk, and nouveau tin-pan alley. Tickets will be available in September and may be purchased at www.joespub.com.

· The Public Side of Paula Scher
Sunday, Oct. 21
2:30pm
Designer Paula Scher has been the graphic steward of The Public Theater since 1994, creating images that speak to contemporary audiences with emotional impact and appeal. Scher will discuss her creative process, and creative point of view, and lead visitors through an installation chronicling some of her most impactful work. Free and open to the public; tickets are required and may be reserved at 212-967-7555 (daily noon-8:00pm), or by visiting The Public Theater Box Office, 425 Lafayette Street (Sun & Mon 1:00-6:00pm; Tue- Sat 1:00-7:30pm).

· Movie Night: "Passing Strange"
Monday, Oct. 22
7:00pm
The 2008 Public Theater on Broadway's production of Passing Strange, the semi-autobiographical story of a young black man who leaves behind his middle-class, church-ruled upbringing in mid-1970s Los Angeles to travel to Europe in search of his artistic and personal identity, was filmed by director Spike Lee and presented as part of PBS' "Great Performances" series. Free and open to the public; tickets are required and may be reserved at 212-967-7555 (daily noon-8:00pm), or by visiting The Public Theater Box Office, 425 Lafayette Street (Sun & Mon 1:00-6:00pm; Tue-Sat 1:00-7:30pm).

· Movie Night: "Much Ado About Nothing"
Monday, Oct. 29
7:00pm
The Public Theater revisits its Tony-nominated 1972 production of Much Ado About Nothing starring Sam Waterston, which was originally broadcast by CBS for 20 million people that year. Free and open to the public; tickets are required and may be reserved at 212-967-7555 (daily noon-8:00pm), or by visiting The Public Theater Box Office, 425 Lafayette Street (Sun & Mon 1:00-6:00pm; Tue-Sat 1:00-7:30pm).

· Public Forum Duet: Anna Deavere Smith and David Simon
Sunday, Nov. 4
7:00pm
On the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of The Public's world premiere of her landmark play about the Crown Heights riots, Fires in the Mirror, the actor, playwright and educator Anna Deavere Smith (Let Me Down Easy; Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992; Nurse Jackie on Showtime) will discuss the life of American cities with producer, author and journalist David Simon (creator of HBO's The Wire, The Corner, and Treme).

Single tickets, priced at $40, and Member tickets, priced at $35, are on sale now and may be purchased at 212-967-7555 (daily noon-8:00pm), www.publictheater.org, or by visiting The Public Theater Box Office, 425 Lafayette Street (Sun & Mon 1:00-6:00pm; Tue-Sat 1:00-7:30pm).

· Movie Night: "Joe Papp in Five Acts"
Monday, Nov. 12
7:00pm
This documentary celebrates Public Theater founder Joe Papp's vision and accomplishments as one of American theater's most important figures; directed by Tracie Holder and Karen Thorsen. The film will be followed by a panel discussion with The Public's Artistic Director Oskar Eustis and others. Free and open to the public, but tickets are required. To reserve tickets call 212-967-7555 (daily noon-8:00pm), or visit The Public Theater Box Office, 425 Lafayette Street (Sun & Mon 1:00-6:00pm; Tue-Sat 1:00-7:30pm).

· Public Forum Duet: Tony Kushner and Rachel Maddow
Sunday, Dec. 2
7:00pm
The Public Forum's series of Duet conversations concludes with a freewheeling conversation between two of America's leading progressives: Tony Kushner (Angels in America; Caroline, or Change; the upcoming Steven Spielberg film Lincoln) and Rachel Maddow (host of The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC and author of Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power). Single tickets, priced at $40, and Member tickets, priced at $35, are on sale now and may be purchased at 212-967-7555 (daily noon-8:00pm), www.publictheater.org, or by visiting The Public Theater Box Office, 425 Lafayette Street (Sun & Mon 1:00-6:00pm; Tue-Sat 1:00-7:30pm).

The Public's 2012-2013 season at its Astor Place home will begin this fall, starting with the world premiere of Colman Domingo's Wild With Happy on October 9, the new musical Giant on October 26, Richard Nelson's Sorry on October 30, and the world premiere of The Twenty-Seventh Man on November 7. More information on all rededication events and the downtown season may be found at www.publictheater.org.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / Retna Ltd.