Laura Benanti, Raul Esparza, Jesse L. Martin, et al. Set for PUBLIC SINGS! Concert, 3/5

The Public Theater has just announced the return of PUBLIC SINGS! on March 5, 2012, an unforgettable evening that celebrates the rich history of musicals produced by The Public Theater, including HAIR, A Chorus Line, and Caroline, or Change, as well as new musicals in development like February House premiering at The Public this May. This intimate evening at Joe's Pub will welcome to the stage many popular Public Theater and Joe's Pub artists, including Laura Benanti, David Byrne, Raul Esparza, Jesse L. Martin, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Steven Pasquale, as well as offer a sneak peak at upcoming musicals. PUBLIC SINGS! tickets can be purchased by calling the Development Office at (212) 539-8554.

"Musicals have been central to the history of The Public Theater since we opened the doors on Astor Place in the fall of 1967 with the world premiere of HAIR," said Artistic Director Oskar Eustis. "From Two Gentleman Of Verona to Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk, from A Chorus Line to Passing Strange, The Public has created musicals that stretch the boundaries of the form and reflect the times we live in. Public Sings! is our celebration of that history and our preview of the future of our musical theater."

Daisy Prince (Director). Her work for The Public Theater includes 10 shows at Joe's Pub, most recently Tom Kitt "An Evening at Stella Del Mare," and, as a performer, Michael John LaChiusa's The Petrified Prince. Her directing credits include The Last Five Years (original Off-Broadway and ChicaGo Productions); Songs For a New World, (original Off-Broadway production, both by Jason Robert Brown); It's Only Life: The Songs of John Bucchino at Rubicon Theatre, CA (Los Angeles Ovation Award, Independent Award, Best Direction) also at SPF and American Songbook at Lincoln Center; Pentimento with Jessica Molaskey, John Pizzarelli, Christine Ebersole and Frank McCourt. Her concert direction in 2011 includes Jazz at Lincoln Center's American Songbook; Lyrics and Lyricists at 92nd St. Y; The Genius of Autism; and Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall. Her performing credits include Merrily We Roll Along (original Broadway Cast); Follies in Concert (Lincoln Center); Pal Joey (Encores! City Center). Prince was a featured performer in concert with New York Pops at Carnegie Hall. Her recording credits include all of the above and John Bucchino's Grateful. Her film credits include three Woody Allen films: Everyone Says I Love You, Deconstructing Harry, and Celebrity. Her producing credits include three plays with Bonnie Metzgar and Thalia Field as House frau, inc. at BACA downtown, including Mac Wellman's Sincerity Forever. Her upcoming projects include the original musical The Connector with Jason Robert Brown and Jonathan Marc Sherman.

The Public Theater (Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director; Patrick Willingham, Executive Director) was founded by Joseph Papp in 1954 and is now one of the nation's preeminent cultural institutions, producing new plays, musicals, and productions of classics at its downtown home and at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. The Public Theater's mandate to create a theater for all New Yorkers continues to this day onstage and through extensive outreach programs. Each year, more than 250,000 people attend Public Theater-related productions and events at six downtown stages, including Joe's Pub, and Shakespeare in the Park. The Public Theater's productions have won 42 Tony Awards, 158 Obies, 42 Drama Desk Awards and four Pulitzer Prizes. Fifty-four Public Theater Productions have moved to Broadway, including Sticks and Bones; That Championship Season; A Chorus Line; For Colored Girls…; The Pirates of Penzance; The Tempest; Bring In 'da Noise, Bring In 'da Funk; The Ride Down Mt. Morgan; Topdog/Underdog; Take Me Out; Caroline, or Change; Passing Strange; the revival of HAIR; Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson and The Merchant of Venice. www.publictheater.org.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos