
Representation in theater was important to Joe Papp
Clip: 6/3/2022 | 3m 19sVideo has Closed Captions
When developing Free Shakespeare in the Park, Joe Papp wanted people to feel represented.
When developing Free Shakespeare in the Park, it was important to Joe Papp that people felt represented in the theater. "Joe wanted to fill the stage with the same kind of people he was gonna fill the audience with. All the people of the city," said James Earl Jones, a frequent collaborator of Papp's.
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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...

Representation in theater was important to Joe Papp
Clip: 6/3/2022 | 3m 19sVideo has Closed Captions
When developing Free Shakespeare in the Park, it was important to Joe Papp that people felt represented in the theater. "Joe wanted to fill the stage with the same kind of people he was gonna fill the audience with. All the people of the city," said James Earl Jones, a frequent collaborator of Papp's.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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How do today’s masters create their art? Each episode an artist reveals how they brought their creative work to life. Hear from artists across disciplines, like actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, singer-songwriter Jewel, author Min Jin Lee, and more on our podcast "American Masters: Creative Spark."Providing Support for PBS.org
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Preview: 6/3/2022 | 1m 42s | Papp, founder of Free Shakespeare in the Park, believed great art is for all. (1m 42s)
The origins of Shakespeare in the Park
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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
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Clip: 6/3/2022 | 2m 14s | Joe Papp saved a historic building from demolition, which evolved into The Public Theater. (2m 14s)
When Joe Papp asked Meryl Streep to take over the theater
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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
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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...