Public Theater Celebrates Founding Press Rep Merle Debuskey Tonight, 11/4

The Public Theater's founding press rep Merle Debuskey will be honored by the member of the Public at a special event tonight, November 4th at the theater at 5:30pm. Debuskey will be honored "for his invaluable contributions to The Public Theater and Free Shakespeare in the Park" and will be in attendance to receive an honorary plaque.

During the ceremony, followed by a cocktail hour, New York Shakespeare Festival's general manager Robert Kamlot will speak about Debuskey's contributions to the Theatre World and, specifically, the Public Theater. 

in addition to his work on the New York Shakespeare Festival from its inception in the 1950s through 1985, Debuskey has been a press agent for more than 300 Broadway productions, the highest number of any press agent in Broadway history including Raisin in the Sun, Inherit the Wind, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, A Chorus Line, Dreamgirls, and Little Me.

For 30 years, he did publicity at New York's Cirlce in the Square and was the first press agent for Lincoln Center Theatre, working on establishing the company with Andre Bishop and Gregory Mosher.

Debuskey was also the president at ATPAM, the press agent's union, for 25 years.  His efforts were instrumental in developing a workable Actors' Equity contract with Off-Broadway theater venues in the 1950s.

Debuskey will be honored in a different way soon, with the publishing of Robert Simonson book about his life, "The Gentleman Press Agent: 50 Years in the Theatrical Trenches." It will feature a look at Debuskey's contribution to the Broadway world.

For more information, visit the Public's website at www.publictheater.org.