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Public/Private: My Life with Joe Papp at The Public Theater Hardcover – October 17, 2023
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Blending a behind-the-scenes history about New York City’s Public Theater with an engrossing account of her life working alongside her husband, the Public's founder Joe Papp, Public/Private is Gail Merrifield Papp’s enthralling and highly entertaining memoir about the legendary theatrical institution. Opening with its early days in the Sixties, her narrative spans the decades-long theatrical partnership the couple enjoyed until Joe's death in 1991. During that time, the Public staged hundreds of productions, ranging from free Shakespeare in Central Park to new plays, such as Ntozake Shange's for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf, and musicals like Hair and A Chorus Line—an extraordinary body of work that launched the careers of dozens of actors, including James Earl Jones, Colleen Dewhurst, Gloria Foster, Morgan Freeman, Raúl Juliá, Kevin Kline, George C. Scott, Martin Sheen, Meryl Streep, and Diane Venora, all of whom make an appearance in the book.
In a witty conversational style, Gail Papp paints a comprehensive picture of the ways that the Public was driven by Joe's ambition to create a democratic theater whose artists and audiences would reflect the city's population. Also highlighted are unfamiliar aspects of his many battles with the establishment, from tilts with Robert Moses to theater critics. The scourge of AIDS is also documented in the form of people close to Joe and Gail, and in the toll, it exacted on Joe's son, Tony. In recounting setbacks and frustrations alongside moments of passionate artistry and theatrical innovation, Gail's personal remembrances lend the narrative a keen, emotional edge which will captivate readers. At a time when America remains divided over issues of equality, identity, and freedom of expression, Public/Private is an important chronicle of how the Public Theater became a transformative beacon for social change—and of the man who created it.
- Print length392 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherApplause
- Publication dateOctober 17, 2023
- Dimensions6.35 x 1.2 x 9.35 inches
- ISBN-101493074865
- ISBN-13978-1493074860
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"Compelling ... .A terrific twofer that’s both a fascinating history and an affecting personal memoir. Will likely appeal to theater fans everywhere."
― Library Journal"This book is a joyous celebration of a man and his era that leaves you yearning for his return but also thankful for the fact he existed at all."
― Air Mail (Editor's Pick)"Gail Merrifield Papp’s astounding memoir ... is a must read. Get this book. Read it, study it, engrave it in your soul. This is how one creates an artistic mission with a great purpose."
― The Hollywood TimesAbout the Author
"Compelling ... .A terrific twofer that’s both a fascinating history and an affecting personal memoir. Will likely appeal to theater fans everywhere."—Library Journal
"This book is a joyous celebration of a man and his era that leaves you yearning for his return but also thankful for the fact he existed at all."—Air Mail (Editor's Pick)
Product details
- Publisher : Applause (October 17, 2023)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 392 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1493074865
- ISBN-13 : 978-1493074860
- Item Weight : 1.7 pounds
- Dimensions : 6.35 x 1.2 x 9.35 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,050,675 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #418 in Performing Arts History & Criticism
- #614 in Theatre Biographies
- #8,791 in Actor & Entertainer Biographies
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
![Gail Merrifield Papp](https://cdn.statically.io/img/m.media-amazon.com/images/S/amzn-author-media-prod/lphh9o1cpfq4v61ihe0o2ajt15._SY600_.jpg)
Gail Merrifield Papp worked alongside Joseph Papp as he founded The Public Theater and was named the theater's Director of New Works Development. In that role, Gail was responsible for some of The Public Theater’s best-remembered productions, including for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf by Ntozake Shange, The Normal Heart by Larry Kramer, The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Rupert Holmes, and many others. Gail Merrifield and Joe Papp married in 1976 and were together until his death in 1991. Her memoir, Public/Private: My Life with Joe Papp at The Public Theater, will be published by Applause Books in October 2023.
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Within these pages reside a who's who of stage, screen and mid to late century culture, political and artistic.
A must read.
Thank you Gail Papp for sharing your life with us.
This memoir was written by Joe Papp's fourth (and final) wife Gail Merrifield Papp. Joe was an iconic figure in the theatre world of New York City. He established "Shakespeare in the Park" which was a way for New Yorkers to see free Shakespeare productions in Central Park on its Delacorte Theatre open-air outdoor stage. This theatre director and producer also saved the empty Astor Library in the East Village of Manhattan from the wrecking ball in a "Landmarks for Sale" situation by creating The Public Theatre in 1967. It housed 5 theatres and administrative offices to nurture new talent. Two of the plays that went on to great acclaim that originated at The Public Theatre were "Hair" and "A Chorus Line".
In the early sixties, Gail Merrifield was working in the publishing industry and experiencing job difficulties when she decided to transition to working in the theatre. After sending out 80 job-seeking letters to theatrical producers gleaned from the Yellow Pages in the NYC phonebook, she ultimately wound up working with Joe Papp. She started out working at his side as a note taker and with time grew to reading submitted plays. She would assess these plays and those with promise would be shown to Joe for consideration. Joe was already in a third troubled marriage when his working relationship with Gail morphed into a secret romantic one. They ultimately married and lived and worked happily together until his death from prostate cancer in 1991.
I am certainly not a theater goer, but love reading biographies, especially those that take place in New York City in the art realm and in decades past. This memoir was clearly written with love. The writing style was straightforward and free flowing...a joy to read. The book begins with the author watching a film recording of her husband's memorial service and recounting the many notable people present that honored him. It was very interesting reading about their working relationship (public) as well as their private one as a happily married couple. Gail uses many quotes from her husband's meetings, speeches and writings in newspapers to make Joe's force of nature come alive on these pages. It was also a delight realizing how many famous actors and actresses prefaced their careers by first acting in these early theatrical productions (George C. Scott, Colleen Dewhurst, Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, James Earl Jones). Even though I have absolutely no interest in Shakespeare or theatrical plays, the author drew me in with this very well-executed memoir.
Thank you to the publisher Globe Pequot, Applause who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.