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American Masters

Joe Papp in Five Acts

Papp, founder of Free Shakespeare in the Park, believed great art is for all.

Aired 06/03/2022

American Masters

Joe Papp in Five Acts

Preview: 6/3/2022 | 1m 42sVideo has Closed Captions

Papp, founder of Free Shakespeare in the Park, believed great art is for all.

Joe Papp, founder of The Public Theater, Free Shakespeare in the Park and producer of groundbreaking plays like "Hair," "A Chorus Line" and "for colored girls," created a 'theater of inclusion' based on the belief that great art is for everyone.

Aired 06/03/2022

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Support for American Masters is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, AARP, Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Judith and Burton Resnick, Blanche and Hayward Cirker Charitable Lead Annuity Trust, Koo...

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AARP

The origins of Shakespeare in the Park

Video has Closed Captions

Clip: 6/3/2022 | 2m 25s | Papp built a stage on a 35 foot truck so he could bring Shakespeare to other communities. (2m 25s)

Papp turned a dilapidated building into The Public Theater

Video has Closed Captions

Clip: 6/3/2022 | 2m 14s | Joe Papp saved a historic building from demolition, which evolved into The Public Theater. (2m 14s)

Representation in theater was important to Joe Papp

Video has Closed Captions

Clip: 6/3/2022 | 3m 19s | When developing Free Shakespeare in the Park, Joe Papp wanted people to feel represented. (3m 19s)

When Joe Papp asked Meryl Streep to take over the theater

Video has Closed Captions

Clip: 6/3/2022 | 1m 41s | Meryl Streep was touched, but perplexed when Papp asked her to run the theater. (1m 41s)

Why Joe Papp thinks the theater should be free for all of us

Video has Closed Captions

Clip: 6/3/2022 | 1m 3s | Joe Papp made it his mission to have theater be accessible to the public. (1m 3s)

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Support for American Masters is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, AARP, Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Judith and Burton Resnick, Blanche and Hayward Cirker Charitable Lead Annuity Trust, Koo...

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