Oskar & Laurie Eustis, Bernard & Anne Spitzer Honored Tonight at The Public Theater's 2015 Gala

The Public Theater's Annual Gala will take place tonight, June 9 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. The evening will include a special performance of the free Shakespeare in the Park production of The Tempest, featuring a cast that includes Sam Waterston and Jesse Tyler Ferguson and directed by Michael Greif, as well as an alfresco dinner in Central Park followed by a dessert reception. Pat Fili-Krushel and Audrey Wilf will serve as Gala Co-Chairs for this popular summer event.

This year, The Public will celebrate Oskar and Laurie Eustis for their unwavering commitment to the mission of The Public Theater and a decade of service to the artistic community and city of New York. Oskar Eustis celebrates 10 years as Artistic Director of The Public Theater this year and Laurie Eustis has been working with artists and literary icons for more than a decade, most recently at the acclaimed literary publication Lapham's Quarterly.

The Public will also proudly honor Bernard Spitzer (1924-2014) and Anne Spitzer for their extraordinary support. Through their generosity, the Spitzer family played a vital role in the capital campaign for the revitalization of The Public's landmark Astor Place building, and helped to ensure The Public can continue offering free tickets to world-class productions of Shakespeare in the Park.

"The Public's annual gala, set so beautifully in the middle of Central Park, is the perfect place to honor those extraordinary individuals who have supported and championed The Public Theater and its enduring legacy," said Executive Director Patrick Willingham. "Oskar and Laurie Eustis and Bernard and Anne Spitzer are true visionaries in their dedication and commitment to the theater and firm believers in the impact that art can have on the community, the city and the world."

The gala evening at the Delacorte tonight, June 9 will begin with cocktails and dinner alfresco at 6:00 p.m. followed by a special performance of The Tempest at 8:00 p.m. and conclude with a dessert reception under the stars. The gala rain date is Wednesday, June 10.

Tickets to The Public Theater's Annual Gala start at $650 and are available for purchase by calling (212) 539-8634, online at www.publictheater.org/gala or via email at gala@publictheater.org. Proceeds from the gala will help support The Public's mission of providing a home for artists who give voice to the pressing issues of our time, provide affordable access to thousands of New Yorkers with free Shakespeare in the Park and other groundbreaking works, and strengthen the vital relationship between our artists and audiences.

Since 1962, over five million people have enjoyed more than 150 free productions of Shakespeare and other classical works and musicals at the Delacorte Theater. Conceived by founder Joe Papp as a way to make great theater accessible to all, The Public's free Shakespeare in the Park continues to be the bedrock of the The Public's mission to increase access and engage the community.