Patrick Willingham News

Ghostlist Records has announced it will record the new musical Soft Power, the New York premiere production from The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham), for an original cast album to be released Spring 2020. Soft Power features play and lyrics by Tony Award winner David Henry Hwang and music and additional lyrics by Tony Award winner Jeanine Tesori, with choreography by Tony nominee Sam Pinkleton. A co-commission and co-production with Center Theatre Group, Tony nominee Leigh Silverman directed this groundbreaking new musical-within-a-play.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) announced a fourth and final extension of the revival of for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf, written by legendary playwright/poet Ntozake Shange. Directed by Obie Award winner Leah C. Gardiner with choreography by Tony Award nominee Camille A. Brown, for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf began performances on Tuesday, October 8 in The Public's Martinson Hall and officially opened on Tuesday, October 22. for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf was originally scheduled to close on Sunday, November 17, and was extended four times to now run through Sunday, December 15.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) will begin previews for the MOBILE UNIT's production of Shakespeare's MEASURE FOR MEASURE on Monday, November 18. Directed by LA Williams, the free sit-down run of MEASURE FOR MEASURE follows a three-week tour to the five boroughs that brought Shakespeare to audiences who have limited or no access to the arts. MEASURE FOR MEASURE will run through Sunday, December 8 with an official press opening on Friday, November 22.

Complete casting has been announced today for the Broadway production of the hit musical Girl from the North Country. Austin Scott, star of FX's a?oePosea?? and Hamilton, will join the company in the role of Joe Scott. Also announced are new ensemble members Jennifer Blood, Law Terrell Dunford, and Chiara Trentalange.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) announced the full line-up today for the 16th annual UNDER THE RADAR FESTIVAL, running January 8-19, 2020. This popular and highly-anticipated festival of The Public's winter season will include artists from across the U.S. and around the world, including Australia, Chile, China, Japan, Mexico, Palestine, Taiwan, and the U.K. Curated by UTR Festival Director Mark Russell, this year's UNDER THE RADAR FESTIVAL continues to expand to venues throughout New York City, in addition to The Public Theater's home at Astor Place. Tickets can be accessed now for Public Theater Supporters and Partners. 

The de Blasio Administration today announced the launch of the IDNYC renewal campaign, new and returning benefit partners, and the IDNYC Middle School Card. With the fifth anniversary of the IDNYC program approaching and the first set of cards set to expire beginning in January 2020, the program has also introduced a new card design and a comprehensive, citywide advertising and targeted outreach campaign to promote renewals. IDNYC is the largest and most successful municipal ID program in the country with over 1.3 million cardholders.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) announced the third extension of the revival of FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE/WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF, written by legendary playwright/poet Ntozake Shange. Directed by Obie Award winner Leah C. Gardiner with choreography by Tony Award nominee Camille A. Brown, FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE/WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF began performances on Tuesday, October 8 in The Public's Martinson Hall and officially opened on Tuesday, October 22. In its third extension, FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE/WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF was originally scheduled to close on Sunday, November 17, and will now run through Sunday, December 8.

Casting has been announced today for the Broadway production of the hit musical Girl from the North Country. Reprising their roles from the production at The Public Theater will be Todd Almond, Jeannette Bayardelle, Matthew Frederick Harris, Caitlin Houlahan, Robert Joy, Tony Award nominee Marc Kudisch, Luba Mason, Ben Mayne, Tom Nelis, Tony Award nominee David Pittu, Colton Ryan, John Schiappa, Kimber Elayne Sprawl, Rachel Stern, Chelsea Lee Williams, and Tony/Academy Award nominee & two-time Emmy Award winner Mare Winningham. Joining the production in the role of Nick Laine will be Jay O. Sanders. Complete casting will be announced soon.

Continuing its commitment to bringing free Shakespeare to the community and strengthening audience engagement with the arts, The Public Theater, under the leadership of Artistic Director Oskar Eustis and Executive Director Patrick Willingham, will mount its MOBILE UNIT again this fall with a free three-week tour to venues across the city of Shakespeare's MEASURE FOR MEASURE, directed by LA Williams. The Mobile Unit's free tour (October 24-November 16) brings Shakespeare and other works to audiences who have limited or no access to the arts by visiting correctional facilities, homeless shelters, social service organizations, and other community organizations. Following the tour to the five boroughs, there will also be a free three-week engagement of MEASURE FOR MEASURE in The Public's Shiva Theater running Monday, November 18 through Sunday, December 8, with an official press opening on Friday, November 22.

See the brand-new marquee for SEA WALL / A LIFE at the Hudson Theatre!

Jake Gyllenhaal stopped by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Monday night to talk about starring in Sea Wall / A Life, which is opening on Broadway this Friday.

Jake Gyllenhaal was a guest on today's episode of Live with Kelly and Ryan to talk about the play he will be starring in on Broadway, Sea Wall/A Life.

Yesterday when the front of house for SEA WALL / A LIFE went up at the Hudson Theatre, the play's stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Tom Sturridge dropped by to check out their brand-new marquee!

 The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) will begin performances for the New York premiere of MOJADA on Tuesday, July 2 with a Joseph Papp Free Preview in The Public's LuEsther Hall. Written by MacArthur Genius Award-winning playwright Luis Alfaro and directed by Obie Award-winning directorChay Yew, MOJADA is a bold new telling of a story as old as tragedy itself. MOJADA will run through Sunday, August 11, with an official press opening on Wednesday, July 17.

Today's top stories: The Minutes and Slave Play will both come to Broadway, Be More Chill announces closing date, Ian McKellen will come to Broadway for one night only, and more!

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) announced casting for the Public Works' musical adaptation of HERCULES with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by David Zippel, book by Kristoffer Diaz, and directed by Lear deBessonet, running for seven nights for free, August 31­September 8 at The Delacorte Theater. Based on the Disney film written by Ron Clements, John Musker, Donald McEnery, Bob Shaw, and Irene Mecchi and directed by Ron Clements and John Musker, HERCULES will feature over 200 New Yorkers from all five boroughs and features choreography by Chase Brock, as well as additional new songs by Menken and Zippel for this Public Works production in addition to six songs from the film's beloved Academy Award-nominated score.

On Tuesday night's episode of The Late Late Show with James Corden, James becomes distracted dring his London edition of Dogs in Sunglasses. He starts to think of Jake Gyllenhaal, who had to cancel his appearance on the show. James starts to sing an an ode to the talented, kind and handsome actor, in the style of Whitney Houston's 'Greatest Love of All,' but then he's greeted by a surprise when Jake Gyllenhaal makes a special appearance.

After its hit runs at The Public Theater, The Old Vic London, and in the West End, Girl from the North Country will come to Broadway, beginning performances on Friday, February 7 at the Belasco Theatre (111 West 44th Street) with the opening night set for Thursday, March 5.  

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) announced additional casting today for the special, free one-night-only event, PUBLIC FORUM: QUEER & NOW, on Monday, June 17 at 8:00 p.m. at The Delacorte Theater in Central Park. In commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots and WorldPride in New York City, Public Forum adds its voice to the chorus of LGBTQ+ artists, activists, and organizers fighting for a better tomorrow, today.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) will begin performances for the acclaimed production WE'RE ONLY ALIVE FOR A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME on Thursday, June 13 with a Joseph Papp Free Preview.