Papp, Joseph

Papp, Joseph, 1921–91, American theatrical director and producer, b. New York City as Joseph Papirofsky. Papp, a major influence in American theater, founded the nonprofit New York Shakespeare Festival in 1954. He sought to make Shakespeare's works and other fine plays available to the public. In 1957 the city granted him a site in Central Park for free productions of Shakespeare. Persevering and energetic, Papp also obtained (1967) from the city the Astor Library Building, where he produced plays, movies, and experimental works by new artists in the Public Theater (since 1992, Joseph Papp Public Theater). Several productions, such as Chorus Line (1975), moved to Broadway; the profits helped finance the Public Theater for many years. A strong advocate of creative freedom, Papp was an important promoter of off-Broadway theater. His Central Park productions of a musical version of Two Gentlemen of Verona (1971) and Much Ado About Nothing (1972) were both so successful that they were given extended runs on Broadway.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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