LEAVE A LEGACY
The Public Theater’s legacy of revolutionary and inclusionary art is only possible thanks to the generosity of community members like you.
Planned Giving
Including The Public Theater in your will or revocable living trust is a powerful way to support free expression and inclusionary art for generations to come.
We are pleased to offer FreeWill to help you begin your legacy in just 20 minutes online.
Our legal name is the “New York Shakespeare Festival”; we are d/b/a The Public Theater, our legal address is 425 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10003, and our EIN is 13-1844852.
Beneficiary Designations
Did you know you may have additional assets not covered in your will or trust? If you have an IRA, 401(k), 403 (b), life insurance policy, donor-advised fund, or any additional accounts, these are called “non-probate assets,” and they need to be planned for separately.
Using the free online tool below, you can log your assets, receive printable instructions on how to set each one up with your broker, and even include The Public Theater to support groundbreaking theater for decades to come.
The Legacy Circle
If you have already chosen to carry on your love for civic-minded, dynamic theater through a gift in your will, trust, or estate plan for The Public, thank you!
Please fill out this form or contact us at plannedgiving@publictheater.org so we can thank you for your lasting commitment and ensure our records are up-to-date!
When you support The Public through a planned gift, you are invited to join the Legacy Circle, our honorary membership group that recognizes the generosity individuals committed to safeguarding the uplifting community engagement initiatives, exquisite artistic productions, and vital civic activities that form the core of The Public’s mission and values.
Public Theater Legacy Circle members are invited to special events in gratitude for their commitment. There is no minimum gift to become a member of the Legacy Circle; simply inform us that you have:
- Named The Public as a beneficiary in your will, living trust or estate plan.
- Named The Public as a beneficiary of your retirement plan, donor-advised fund, other financial accounts, or an insurance policy.
As a member of the Legacy Circle, you will receive:
- An invitation to the Annual Breakfast with Public Theater Executive Leadership and other exclusive events.
- Listing online and in the Playbill
To discuss planned giving options or receive additional information, please contact plannedgiving@publictheater.org or 212.967.7555.
BECAUSE OF YOU THE PUBLIC IS...
A voice to the way we live now
At our six-venue home at Astor Place, we produce an ANNUAL SEASON OF WORLD PREMIERE PLAYS & MUSICALS, giving voice to a diverse range of new and established artists, leading and framing the dialogue on some of the most important issues of our day.
Free Shakespeare for everyone
For over six decades, we have been producing FREE SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK and more than 6 million people have visited The Delacorte Theater in Central Park for free performances, making it one of New York's most beloved summer traditions.
Bringing theater to all of NYC
With MOBILE UNIT, we tour all five boroughs, bringing free performances to correctional facilities, senior and recreation centers, parks, and more for members of our community with little or no access to the arts.
Putting New York on stage
With PUBLIC WORKS, we seek to engage the audience by making them creators and not just spectators. Working deeply with partner organizations around the city, we invite community members to participate in workshops and classes, attend performances, and join in the creation of ambitious works of participatory theater.
Making a home for musicians and artists
At our famed JOE'S PUB at The Public, we present hundreds of shows per year and support thousands of artists in one of the most welcoming, intimate live venues in the city.
Fostering artists
Through a variety of initiatives, we provide support for artists of all career levels, and development opportunities for work at every stage, from new idea to full production.
A Future Gift for The Public's Future
A gift of any size can make a huge impact—ensuring unique, electrifying productions at Astor Place and through FREE SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK, MOBILE UNIT, and PUBLIC WORKS can continue to delight and inspire audiences for generations to come.
Start your estate plan with FreeWill
