The following column has appeared in multiple publications:
Matt Robinson’s Curtain Call
The Publick Theatre
www,publicktheatre.org
Date Founded: 1971
Artistic Director: Diego Arciniegas
Primary Home: Christian Herter Park (1175A Soldiers Field Road, Brighton)
Tickets: 617-782-5425 / http://publicktheatre.org/outdoorTheatre_tickets.asp
Originally launched in 1959 with best wishes from HRH Queen Elizabeth II and with appearances by Sir John Gielgud and such American performance royalty as Arthur Miller and Marilyn Monroe , the outdoor theatre at Christian Herter Park was soon damaged by a hurricane and lay dormant for many years.
Fortunately, in 1971, the MDC was petitioned to reopen the venue in order to provide the area with a classical outdoor theatre. Since that time, the Publick Theatre has been bringing great theatre to performers and fans of all ages and backgrounds, becoming known as Greater Boston’s premiere outdoor theatre group.
With a main stage set under the arbors and the stars and alongside the Charles River, a night at the Publick combines the wonders of great theatre with the romance of an evening spent al fresco.
Each season, the Publick offers two mainstage performances that range from classic Shakespeare to contemporary debuts. Past offerings have included “Man of La Mancha,” “The Bard of Avon,” and “Copenhagen,” as well as an indoor performance of Noel Coward’s “Design for Living” that was staged at the Boston Center for the Arts.
Instead of running one show straight through before launching the other, the performances are staggered, rotating on a bi-weekly basis. Not only does this simultaneous production keep both plays fresh, it also allows theatre fans to schedule two shows in a matter of days, instead of having to wait for one show to come and go before the next performance begins.
As they are such fans of the Bard, the Publick offers special workshops related to Shakespeare and the skills needed to perform his and other works, especially in an outdoor venue. The goal of this program is to train actors in the fundamentals of verse-structure and outdoor performance, helping them to advance their skills and their careers.
In addition to the mainstage performances, the Publick offers a Young Company program that attracts inner-city youth and other young performers throughout the region. By studying and performing with the Publick’s primary actors, these younger performers learn the ins and outs of the theatre world while getting first-hand experience on stage and behind the scenes.
So whether you want to experience great theatre or be a part of it, the Publick Theatre has all the theatre-loving public(k) needs!
