Public Theater

The Public Theater is a large red brick building at 425 Lafayette Street, in the East Village, Manhattan, New York City.

When it was built in 1849, the Public Theater building housed the Astor Library, a library founded by John Jacob Astor and built by his son William B. Astor of the Waldorf=Astoria fame.

The Public Theater at 425 Lafayette Street, Manhattan
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Public_Theater_-_NY_Shakespeare_Festival_2010.11.23.jpg
Author: Hdanirwin


The Astor Library later merged with the Tilden and Lenox collections and became the New York Public Library. The building was designed by Alexander Saeltzer, a German-born architect, in the Rungbogenstil style which was in fashion back in Germany at that time.

In 1965, the building was under the threat of demolition. Joseph Papp, the founder of the New York Shakespeare Festival, persuaded the city to buy up the building and make it the home of the Shakespeare Company. This was achieved, and library had a makeover that turned it into a six-theater facility. Today known as the Public Theater, it was the original home of such musicals as Hair and A Chorus Line, which became a long-running Broadway show.

How to reach the Public Theater

Take the 6 train to Astor Place subway station. Walk south on Lafayette Street and you will reach the Public Theater, a dark-red building, on your left.

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