TV EXCLUSIVE: Take a Tour of the New Joe's Pub!

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Joe's Pub, the beloved live performance venue at The Public Theater and a vital part of New York City's cultural landscape, reopened last week, October 4, after a three month hiatus while undergoing an extensive interior redesign and renovation, spearheaded by original designer and Joe's Pub, LLC partner Serge Becker. Serving more than 100,000 audience members annually, Joe's Pub first opened in 1998 and presents more than 800 performances a year. 

BroadwayWorld stopped by the venue to an exclusive tour of the new space from Joe's Pub Director Shanta Thake and Managing Director Kevin Abbott.  Click below for a first look at the new and improved space!

The renovation of Joe's Pub, the first in 13 years, is designed to enhance the audience and performer experience by eliminating standing room, expanding seated capacity, renovating the restrooms, improving seating layout and sightlines, providing new artist dressing rooms and moving the entrance to Joe's Pub from Lafayette Street to inside The Public Theater lobby. In addition, patrons will be able to select and reserve their seating online.

The changes to Joe's Pub align with the construction and remodeling of The Public Theater as part of the GOING PUBLIC Capital Campaign, which also includes the addition of a café area to the redesigned Public Theater lobby; the opening of a new lounge space designed by David Rockwell; and an expanded kitchen to accommodate the new food and beverage service needs of the building. On October 1, Joe's Pub will reopen with its limited kitchen until all the renovations are complete in the spring.

The ongoing construction of The Public Theater will revitalize the historic Astor Library building and strengthen the organization for years to come.

The plans, designed by Ennead Architects, include an expanded and refurbished lobby (which allows for the lobby's capacity to increase 170%); an exterior entrance staircase with two ADA-accessible ramps and a glass canopy; a complete restoration of the theater's historic brownstone façade; a complete upgrade of the theater's heating, ventilation and air condition systems; an increase in restroom facilities by 350%; an expanded and centrally located box office; a new mezzanine level; a new lounge space; improved and expanded food and beverage service; a greatly expanded Joe's Pub kitchen; the incorporation of energy-efficient technology; and improved street visibility including six new poster boxes and exterior lighting.

Joe Papp acquired the building in 1965 with help from the City of New York and it became one of the first buildings to be declared a New York City Landmark. The Public Theater's mission - that arts should be accessible to all regardless of socioeconomic background - echoes the democratic legacy of the Astor Library that made knowledge available to everyone. The complex was transformed into a functioning performance center and still operates as The Public Theater's downtown home, housing five theaters, administrative and Production Offices, rehearsal space and Joe's Pub.

JOE'S PUB at The Public Theater debuted in October 1998 and quickly became one of New York City's most celebrated and in-demand showcase venues for live music and performance. With its genre-blind booking and vast diversity of interests, the stage at Joe's Pub gives voice to a world of varied and stellar artists. Joe's Pub is open seven days a week, regularly hosting as many as three shows a day. Dinner and drink service is available during every performance. In addition to its reputation of presenting internationally known stars, Joe's Pub has also developed into a premier showcase stage for up-and-coming musicians and emerging artists from a variety of disciplines. The Public Theater is partnered with restaurateur JOE'S PUB, LLC, owned and operated by Josh Pickard (Locanda Verde, The Dutch, Lure, B&B, Chinatown Brasserie), Serge Becker (Miss Lily's, La Esquina, The Box, Café Select), Paul Salmon (Jamaica's Rockhouse Hotel, Miss Lily's) and Kevin Abbott (Managing Director of Joe's Pub).

For more information and to check out the new space, visit www.joespub.com.