Public Square

We're back! Join us for Public Square 2.0, the re-launch of The Public Theater’s Podcast, “Public Square.” For our second season, Host Garlia Cornelia Jones, The Public’s new and first ever Director of Innovation and New Media, will continue to guide you through a behind the scenes look as we connect with artists and staff. Welcome home, to Public Square—we can’t wait to have you back! Stay Tuned for Episodes, wherever you find your podcasts.

Public Square 2.0 - "Season Finale: Legacy Meets Reinvention" 06/15/2023

Public Square 2.0 - Shakespeare Live: Hamlet in Conversation 06/01/2023

Public Square 2.0 - "FAT HAM: Food for my Soul" 05/18/2023

Public Square 2.0 - Bonus Episode 7 “SHADOW/LAND - The Clearing, Part 3: Healing 05/10/2023

Public Square 2.0 - Bonus Episode 7 “SHADOW/LAND - The Clearing, Part 3: Healing In 2021, The Public Theater released an audio-only version of Erika Dickerson-Despenza’s play, shadow/land. Alongside that audio play were several podcast episodes of a series called “The Clearing,” that added additional context to the audio production. Now in 2023, shadow/land has come to the in-person stage of The Public, and we are re-releasing the episodes of “The Clearing” as a part of Public Square 2.0, with host Garlia Cornelia Jones bringing some additional context. "The Clearing," references a space of healing in Toni Morrison's Beloved. In Beloved, the Clearing is a place in the woods where one of the characters, Baby Suggs, held her religious and spiritual gatherings. Baby Suggs called the black formerly enslaved community together to laugh, dance, cry and reclaim their bodies, bodies that had been used in the service of trans-Atlantic slavery. The ancillary episodes like shadow/land provide a space for healing and also call forth Congo Square, which is located at a clearing, apocalypse which is clearing, and the Yoruba deity Oya, who rules hurricanes and tornadoes and is known to clear the way. The Clearing, our ancillary episodes of post-show discussions, honors Toni Morrison and all the great black women writers and healers that have paved the way. PART 3: HEALING In the wake of a disaster, how does one heal? This episode considers the essential place of art in recovering from a catastrophe. This conversation includes: Soyica Colbert (host), Imani Perry (scholar), Cara Page (scholar), Jack Phillips Moore (Director of New Artists), Lauren A. Whitehead (dramaturgical consultant), and Erika Dickerson-Despenza (playwright). Public Square 2.0 credits: Executive Producer: Garlia Cornelia Jones, Director - Innovation and New Media Creative Producer: John Sloan III, Audio Producer: Justin K. Sloan, Assistant Producer: Emily White - New Media Associate Graphics by Tam Shell, Art Director - Brand Studio Music Credits: "Latte” By Sunny Fruit, Artlist.io "Beatrix" By Notize, Artist.io “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man." Written by Oscar II Hammerstein, Jerome Kern. Courtesy of Universal PolyGram Int. Publishing, Inc. “Come Sunday." Written by Duke Ellington. Courtesy of G. Schirmer, Inc. “Indian Red." Written by George Landry. Rhinelander Music Inc. and Gulf Coast Music LLC. /episode/index/show/publicsquare/id/26798751

Public Square 2.0 - “Mobile Unit: Sound of the Community” 05/04/2023

Public Square 2.0 - Bonus Episode 6 “SHADOW/LAND - The Clearing, Part 2: Imagining and Building New Structures" 05/02/2023

Public Square 2.0 - Bonus Episode 6 “SHADOW/LAND - The Clearing, Part 2: Imagining and Building New Structures" In 2021, The Public Theater released an audio-only version of Erika Dickerson-Despenza’s play, shadow/land. Alongside that audio play were several podcast episodes of a series called “The Clearing,” that added additional context to the audio production. Now in 2023, shadow/land has come to the in-person stage of The Public, and we are re-releasing the episodes of “The Clearing” as a part of Public Square 2.0, with host Garlia Cornelia Jones bringing some additional context. "The Clearing," references a space of healing in Toni Morrison's Beloved. In Beloved, the Clearing is a place in the woods where one of the characters, Baby Suggs, held her religious and spiritual gatherings. Baby Suggs called the black formerly enslaved community together to laugh, dance, cry and reclaim their bodies, bodies that had been used in the service of trans-Atlantic slavery. The ancillary episodes like shadow/land provide a space for healing and also call forth Congo Square, which is located at a clearing, apocalypse which is clearing, and the Yoruba deity Oya, who rules hurricanes and tornadoes and is known to clear the way. The Clearing, our ancillary episodes of post-show discussions, honors Toni Morrison and all the great black women writers and healers that have paved the way. PART 2: IMAGINING AND BUILDING NEW STRUCTURES Why are some areas and communities hit harder when disaster strikes? This episode considers how catastrophes are created and what imaginative and constructive work needs to be done to prevent them in the future. This conversation includes: Soyica Colbert (host), Sheila Foster (legal scholar), Shana M. Griffin (scholar), Jack Moore (Director of New Artists) and Cara Page (scholar) join in the conversation. "The Clearing," references a space of healing in Toni Morrison's Beloved. In Beloved, the Clearing is a place in the woods where one of the characters, Baby Suggs, held her religious and spiritual gatherings. Baby Suggs called the black formerly enslaved community together to laugh, dance, cry and reclaim their bodies, bodies that had been used in the service of trans-Atlantic slavery. The ancillary episodes like shadow/land provide a space for healing and also call forth Congo Square, which is located at a clearing, apocalypse which is clearing, and the Yoruba deity Oya, who rules hurricanes and tornadoes and is known to clear the way. The Clearing, our ancillary episodes of post-show discussions, honors Toni Morrison and all the great black women writers and healers that have paved the way. SHADOW/LAND: AN AUDIO PLAYWritten by Erika Dickerson-DespenzaDirected by Candis C. Jones Produced by The Public Theater Featuring Te'Era Coleman (9-1-1 Caller), Lizan Mitchell (Magalee), Lance E. Nichols (9-1-1 Dispatcher and Caller), Lori Elizabeth Parquet (9-1-1 Dispatcher and Caller), Sunni Patterson (Griot), and Michelle Wilson (Ruth). /episode/index/show/publicsquare/id/26719056

Public Square 2.0 - Bonus Episode 5 “SHADOW/LAND - The Clearing, Part 1: A Useable Past” 04/25/2023

Public Square 2.0 - “shadow/land: Reflections of Home” 04/20/2023

Public Square 2.0 - Bonus Episode 4 “What Do You Know? Part 2” 04/06/2023

Public Square 2.0 - Bonus Episode 3 “What Do You Know? Part 1” 03/23/2023

Public Square 2.0 - Bonus Episode 2 “Hansberry & Baldwin in the Building” 03/09/2023

Public Square 2.0 - “Abundance: Black History Month” 02/28/2023

Public Square 2.0 - “The Harder They Come: A Radical Retelling” 02/16/2023

Public Square 2.0 - “The Harder They Come: A Radical Retelling” Perry Henzell’s breakthrough film, premiered in 1972, showing a side of Jamaican culture never seen before on the screen by Jamaicans or around the world. Over 50 years later, this groundbreaking film is a new musical adaptation with a book by Suzan-Lori Parks (Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, The Public’s Writer-in-Residence). This episode pulls apart the cultural nuances and underbelly of a culture not often examined in a theatrical setting. Join us as we dive deep into the history of the film in1970s Jamaica, as well as a look at what goes into adapting a film into a musical. Guests include: In alphabetical order… Freedome Bradley-Ballentine, Associate Artistic Director / Director of Artistic Programs Sandra Daley-Sharif, Cultural Ambassador Kwame Dawes, Cultural Consultant Camille Darby, Playwright and VP of Brand Marketing - Condé Nast Sharon Gordon, Cultural Ambassador Justine Henzell, Rights Holder and Daughter of Perry Henzell Amrita Ramanan, Dramaturg and Director of New Work and Development Kenny Seymour, Music Supervisor, Orchestrator and Arranger Malika Lee Whitney, Cultural Ambassador Hosted by Garlia Cornelia Jones, The Public’s new and first ever Director of Innovation and New Media, each full episode of Public Square 2.0, will continue to guide you through a behind the scenes look as we connect with artists and staff. Welcome home to Public Square—we’re so happy to have you back! Executive Producer: Garlia Cornelia Jones, Director - Innovation and New Media Creative Producer: John Sloan III, Story Editors: Garlia Cornelia Jones, John Sloan III Audio Producer: Justin K. Sloan, Assistant Producer: Emily White - New Media Associate Graphics by Tam Shell, Art Director - Brand Studio Music Credits: “Latte” By Sunny Fruit, Artlist.io “Strip It Down” By Falconer, Artlist.io “Beatrix” By Notize, Artlist.io “Passionate Choices” By Mansij, Artlist.io “Baby I’m Stuck In A Cone” By Ge Filter Fish, Artlist.io “Shake It Around.” By Falconer, Artlist.io “This Is The Life” By Yuval Maayan, Artlist.io “Catch me” By Russo, Artlist.io Rehearsal photos of The Harder They Com by Joan Marcus Transcript by 3Play /episode/index/show/publicsquare/id/25957854

Public Square 2.0 - "Lorraine: All Things at Once" 02/09/2023

Public Square 2.0 - Bonus Episode 1 “Her Father was a Republican: The Politics of Lorraine Hansberry” 01/26/2023

Public Square 2.0 - “… Maybe I can be a Lighthouse.” 12/20/2022

Public Square 2.0 - “… Maybe I can be a Lighthouse.” In this 1st Episode of the Public Square 2.0, the re-launch of The Public Theater’s Podcast, “Public Square.” Host Garlia Cornelia Jones, The Public’s new and first ever Director of Innovation and New Media, introduces us to the new format, and sits down with long-time Writer in Residence, Suzan-Lori Parks, as well as our retiring Production Executive, Ruth Sternberg. Each episode, we will continue to guide you through a behind the scenes look as we connect with artists and staff. Welcome home, to Public Square—we can’t wait to have you back! Stay Tuned for Episodes, wherever you find your podcasts. Hosted by Garlia Cornelia Jones Executive Producer: Garlia Cornelia Jones, Director - Innovation and New Media Creative Producer: John Sloan III, Audio Producer: Justin K. Sloan, Assistant Producer: Emily White - New Media Associate Graphics by Tam Shell, Art Director - Brand Studio Photo Credits: Kenny Leon, Margaret Odette, Garlia Cornelia Jones; photo by Simon Luethi Chay Yew, Garlia Cornelia Jones, Luis Alfaro photo by Simon Luethi Jason Paradine, Heather Fichthorn, Cody Johnson, Garlia Cornelia Jones, Yuvika Tolani, Oskar Eustis; photo by Simon Luethi Garlia Cornelia Jones, Martha Redbone; photo by Simon Luethi Public Theater building, photo by Aislinn Wiedele BALDWIN & BUCKLEY AT CAMBRIDGE, photos by Joan Marcus A RAISIN IN THE SUN, photos by Joan Marcus TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA (2005), photo by Michal Daniel HAIR (2008), photo by Joan Marcus PLAYS FOR THE PLAGUE YEAR photo by Joan Marcus Joe’s Pub photo by Nada Shaaban John Clay III and Paige Gilbert in A RAISIN IN THE SUN, photo by Joan Marcus Madeline Sayet in WHERE WE BELONG, photo by Joan Marcus Music Credits: “Love to love me” by Suzan-Lori Parks, from her play White Noise “Whichaway the World” by Suzan-Lori Parks, from her play Plays for the Plague Year “Latte” By Sunny Fruit, Artlist.io Transcript by 3Play /episode/index/show/publicsquare/id/25372410