Research Catalog

Details

Additional authors

1. Schneier, Arthur
2. Lowell, Stanley
3. Dinkins, David N
4. Swados, Elizabeth
5. Lapine, James
6. Wagner, Robin, 1933-
7. Sheen, Martin
8. Streep, Meryl
9. Julia, Raul
10. Akalaitis, JoAnne
11. Cohen, Jason Steven
12. Patinkin, Mandy
13. Kline, Kevin
14. Gersten, Bernard
15. Freedman, Gerald
16. New York Shakespeare Festival Public Theater.

Description

1. 1 videodisc (DVD) (104 min.) : sd., col.; 4 3/4 in.

Summary

1. Funeral service for theatrical producer and director Joseph Papp on the day after his death (October 31, 1991). The service, conducted by Rabbi Arthur Schneier, features eulogies delivered by Papp's closest friends, associates, colleagues as well as several actors whose careers he helped launch. The speakers discuss the origins of Papp's project to produce free Shakespeare productions in Central Park; his various achievements as founder of the Public Theater, the Delacorte Theater and the New York Shakespeare Festival and as producer of the musical A chorus line; his interests and family relationships; his encouragement of theatrical experimentation and his willingness to allow mistakes; his role as artistic "father" and mentor; his belief in the "power" of the theater and personal reminiscences. The service also includes performances of several songs by an a capella singing group led by composer Elizabeth Swados, and the rendition of the Yiddish song Yossel, Yossel by singer Mandy Patinkin. The service concludes at 97 min. The last 7 min. of tape shows the theater and guests leaving after the service.

Donor/Sponsor

1. Gift of the Joseph Papp Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival.

Series statement

1. Joseph Papp Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival Moving Image Collection

Alternative title

1. Joseph Papp funeral service Nov. 1, 1991 Newman Theater

Subject

1. Papp, Joseph
2. Papp, Joseph > Influence
3. Papp, Joseph > Death and burial
4. New York Shakespeare Festival Public Theater
5. Theatrical producers and directors > 20th century
6. Video
7. Theater > New York (State) > New York
8. Papp, Joseph > Friends and associates
9. Tributes

Genre/Form

1. Video.

Call number

1. NCOV 5044

Note

1. This video separated from the New York Shakespeare Festival collection, *T-Mss 1993-028.
2. Title from label on container. Credits obtained from tape contents.
3. Image blacks out abruptly at 58 min. and resumes again ca. 59 min.

Access (note)

1. Restricted to qualified researchers.

Event (note)

1. Videotaped at the Public Theater/Newman Theater, New York, N.Y. on November 1, 1991.

Biography (note)

1. American theatrical director and producer Joseph Papp (1921-1991) was born in Williamsburg, Brooklyn as Joseph Papirofsky. Papp founded the nonprofit New York Shakespeare Festival in 1954 with the goal of making Shakespeare's works and other fine plays available to the public. In 1957 the city granted him a site (now the Delacorte Theater) for free productions of Shakespeare. In 1967 Papp obtained the Astor Library from the City, where he produced plays, movies and experimental works by new artists in the Public Theater (renamed the Joseph Papp Public Theater in 1991). Several productions, such as Hair (1967) and A chorus line (1975) moved to Broadway and the profits provided the bulk of the Public Theater's finances for many years. A strong advocate of creative freedom, Papp was also an important promoter of Off-Broadway theater. His Central Park productions of Much ado about nothing (1972) and a musical version of Two gentlemen of Verona (1971) were both so successful that they were given extended runs on Broadway.

Title

1. Joseph Papp funeral service [videorecording]

Imprint

1. New York, 1991.

Series

1. Joseph Papp Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival Moving Image Collection

Access

1. Restricted to qualified researchers.

Performer

1. Speakers: Rabbi Arthur Schneier, Stanley Lowell, Mayor David Dinkins, Elizabeth Swados, James Lapine, Robin Wagner, Martin Sheen, Meryl Streep, Raul Julia, JoAnne Akalaitis, Jason Steven Cohen, Mandy Patinkin, Kevin Kline, Bernard Gersten and Gerald Freedman.

Event

1. Videotaped at the Public Theater/Newman Theater, New York, N.Y. on November 1, 1991.

Biography

1. American theatrical director and producer Joseph Papp (1921-1991) was born in Williamsburg, Brooklyn as Joseph Papirofsky. Papp founded the nonprofit New York Shakespeare Festival in 1954 with the goal of making Shakespeare's works and other fine plays available to the public. In 1957 the city granted him a site (now the Delacorte Theater) for free productions of Shakespeare. In 1967 Papp obtained the Astor Library from the City, where he produced plays, movies and experimental works by new artists in the Public Theater (renamed the Joseph Papp Public Theater in 1991). Several productions, such as Hair (1967) and A chorus line (1975) moved to Broadway and the profits provided the bulk of the Public Theater's finances for many years. A strong advocate of creative freedom, Papp was also an important promoter of Off-Broadway theater. His Central Park productions of Much ado about nothing (1972) and a musical version of Two gentlemen of Verona (1971) were both so successful that they were given extended runs on Broadway.

Local subject

1. Tributes.

Added author

1. Schneier, Arthur, speaker.
2. Lowell, Stanley, speaker.
3. Dinkins, David N, speaker.
4. Swados, Elizabeth, speaker.
5. Lapine, James, speaker.
6. Wagner, Robin, 1933- speaker.
7. Sheen, Martin, speaker.
8. Streep, Meryl, speaker.
9. Julia, Raul, speaker.
10. Akalaitis, JoAnne, speaker.
11. Cohen, Jason Steven, speaker.
12. Patinkin, Mandy, speaker.
13. Kline, Kevin, speaker.
14. Gersten, Bernard, speaker.
15. Freedman, Gerald, speaker.
16. New York Shakespeare Festival Public Theater.

Research call number

1. NCOV 5044