orig. Joseph Papirofsky
born June 22, 1921, Brooklyn, N.Y., U.S.
died Oct. 31, 1991, New York, N.Y.
U.S. theatrical producer and director.
He studied acting and directing and worked as a stage manager for CBS television. In 1954 he founded the New York Shakespeare Festival, which gave free performances of Shakespeare's plays in city parks. He produced and directed most of the plays; in 1962 the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park was built as the company's permanent home. In 1967 he founded the New York Shakespeare Festival Public Theatre, which concentrated on contemporary and experimental dramas. Several productions traveled to Broadway, including Hair (1967) and A Chorus Line (1975). Papp remained one of Off-Broadway 's most active producers into the 1980s. He served as artistic director of the Shakespeare Festival and the Public Theatre until his death.