A Night at the Public Theater's Annual Gala

On Monday, September 20, the Public Theater threw its annual gala at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, held in honor of the late Public founder and former artistic director Joe Papp. Guests were treated to the closing-night performance of the hit Shakespeare in the Park production of Merry Wives—adapted by Jocelyn Bioh and directed by Saheem Ali—as well as a dinner and an awards presentation to Public Works community member Vivian Jett Brown, who was given the inaugural Annual Community Leadership Award. Public Theater fans and friends including Jane Krakowski, Neil Patrick Harris, Suzan-Lori Parks, Don Lemon, David Rockwell, and more joined in the revelry to celebrate Papp's legacy and the Public's ongoing and vital commitment to free live theater in New York City.