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    The Public Theater

    4.2 (78 reviews)

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    My view of the stage.
    Alexander R.

    Fantastic venue for watching a show. I had great seats that were very comfortable and right in front of the performers. John Leguizamo was fantastic in his portrayal of a typical stubborn Hispanic father. I won't say more to avoid ruining it for others. Many of the guests were left in tears. What I like about the venue is the intimate setting that allows you to enjoy the show without the large crowds that make seeing a show on Broadway such a nightmare. Especially the seating which are usually so uncomfortable that I avoid going to them. However this place was fantastic and I would recommend it highly if you want to enjoy a good show and dinner. The area is bustling with activity from clubs next door with lots of people ready to party. This was a great night out.

    Theater comfortable seats
    Elizabeth R.

    John Leguizamo a big salute to you for directing such an impactful play -all the actors play their part amazingly -Luna Lauren Velez remember her from Dexter loved the strong woman part she played in this play-like I said they were all amazing. The story line was that of probably many Latin American families struggling to always have more for their family. A definite must see -The public theater had great seats and very comfortable I would go again.

    We had a great time
    Maday M.

    John Leguizamo's new play is a dark, riveting portrait of a family in crisis. At the center is Nelson, a laundromat owner whose failing business drives him to hustle everyone around him--his lawyer, his friends, even his own sister. At first, Leguizamo plays Nelson with sharp humor, but the laughs quickly give way to something far colder. As his son returns home from a psychiatric hospital, Nelson's true nature emerges: selfish, cruel, and emotionally hollow. The cast delivers across the board. Trey Santiago-Hudson is heartbreaking as Nick, capturing a young man's fragility with a rawness that makes you want to comfort him. Rebecca Jimenez brings power and nuance to Toni, the neglected daughter, while Bradley James Tejeda gives quiet strength to Eddie, her steadfast boyfriend. Luna Lauren Vélez is superb as Patti, the mother holding together a fractured family. She embodies the Latina matriarch with grace and grit, offering love and support even as her world crumbles around her. Watching her performance felt like witnessing a slow-motion disaster--tragic, inevitable, and unforgettable. Leguizamo's writing blends humor and heartbreak with striking honesty. The tension builds relentlessly, each scene more emotionally charged than the last. By the end, the audience is left breathless, caught between the need to see the conclusion and the wish for it not to end. This production is searing, powerful, and unmissable.

    Lobby
    Philip Z.

    A beautiful, intimate theater with comfortable seating. Wonderful, helpful staff. We saw The Other Americans, which was terrific. Which was also no surprise, seeing how it was written by and stars John Leguizamo, who is always terrific. But I never forgave him for that one time, in '93. I knew Pacino should have ended him in that back alley...

    Alisa J.

    Saw an amazing show at this great theater! Seats were comfy and sound and stage craft was great. Loved the show as well.

    Newman Theater
    Imani R.

    I watched Gatz here inside the Newman Theater. It was a very long play, but I was grateful for spacious seating. I had my backpack at my feet, and I didn't feel squished. The staff were also very pleasant!

    Frank A.

    The Public Theater is in the former Astor Library on Lafayette Street. It also stages Shakespeare in the Park in Central Park. Many amazing theatrical productions debuted at The Public before heading to Broadway including Hair and A Chorus Line. I first saw Hamilton and Here Lies Love at The Public. One of its current shows is Hells Kitchen by Alicia Keyes and it is another great show.

    Megan C.

    Amazing and historic theatre in an easily accessible neighborhood. Many transfers to Broadway are in their final workshop iteration at the Public, which makes it exciting to see a show...no matter what you're seeing. Ive only attended during COVID times so I haven't been able to fully experience the Pub, etc. I attended The Visitor in their Newman Theatre space. Though the show was a disappointment, the venue itself is gorgeous and leaves room for experimentation. Very comfortable from an audience perspective and the house staff here is excellent. I am looking forward to getting to Shakespeare in the Park this summer and more inventive programming all season long.

    Lobby bar
    Brian L.

    Housed in the former Astor Library, The Public Theater is accessible via the R and N trains to 8th street or the #6 train to Astor Place. In the addition to hosting two Shakespeare performances at the Delacorte in Central Park every summer, The Public at Astor Place also showcases year-round productions in each of its six performance spaces. The Martinson and LuEsther Halls have their own accessible restrooms, but patrons for the Newman, Shiva, and Anspacher Theaters must use the restrooms on the lobby level. Joe's Pub offers both live entertainment and a small dinner menu (www.yelp.com/biz/joes-pub-at-the-public-new-york). The lobby--which has the box office, restrooms, an island that sells food and drink--is open to the public. Lines for will call at the box office are split by last name: A thru L and M thru Z. With an incredibly misleading name, "The Library" on the mezzanine level is not a repository of books but rather a supper club that is only open to the public from 17:30 - midnight. It's open during the day for private engagements but guarded by a bouncer. The balcony on the mezzanine level has tables and chairs that are available to anyone and seems to be popular with NYU students. The last show I saw was at the Anspacher Theater, which has an arena stage layout. Expect well-cushioned auditorium seats with ample legroom. Don't be startled if the room rumbles once or twice from a passing train underground (not part of the performance).

    Kyla Z.

    This is one of my favorite places on earth. They are consistently creating new and interesting theatre. It is always affordable. This time I got Rush tickets for $20 on todaytix.com. The theatre that comes out of this place changes the face of theatre in America. HAIR started here. Hamilton started here. They also have Joes pub with frequent performances, and they have Shakespeare in the Park during the summer.

    Long time coming!
    Elle B.

    Came here to see the production of For Colored Girls, that has not been on Broadway since 1976! So this was a pivitol moment in history and I was happy to be able to view the play. I have come to this theater several times over the years to see different things, such as music performances and plays and it is comfortable, nice staff, easily accessible via public transportation. They also have many additional free or low cost programs that one can enjoy.

    Andrea A.

    My first time and certainly not my last! Big flags outside- can't miss it! Was pleasantly surprised with my experience considering I didn't know what to expect. Ordered tickets for Seawall A Life months in advance but never received an email or printed ticket. Was a little concerned but figured we have the proof of purchase in any case electronically. Once we got to the theater (which was super clean and very modern/slick in design) we were directed to the box office booth and they handed us actual physical tickets as if we will-called them. Happy! Love saving ticket stubs! There were snacks like coffee, sandwiches, pastries as well as beer and mixed drinks in the center of the first floor that could also be preordered before arrival as well as before intermission to be ready for you to beat the wait! Although the beer was on the fritz and seemed not to be pouring correctly. Had to wait a while for it. There were art fixtures around the space and a photobooth for fun. There looked to be a cafe upstairs too. The seating for the actual show was very intimate and even in the last row would be easy to watch and enjoy the stage. Not very far or up high at all. The play itself- amazing. Deep and thoughtful. Beautifully written and acted. Jake Gyllenhaal and Tom Sturridge were heartfelt and compelling. The acoustics were great too. You could hear the actors picking their nails from the top row. Checked the upcoming shows and nothing really peaked my interest but I'll be checking back in the future.

    Girl from the North Country was wonderful!
    Lily R.

    Came to see Girl from the North Country at the Public. Thank you so much for providing a venue for this wonderful play. It was one of the best things I've seen in several years. I don't want to ruin the play for anyone, but it was magical and transformative and moving, really amazing things from both the playwright and the re-worked Bob Dylan catalogue. I can't say enough good things! I hope more people get a chance to experience it. The theater was the perfect size; it was a bit smaller scale than some of the large broadway theaters and felt more intimate. The seats were much more comfortable than what most avid show goers will be used to, I guess since it wasn't built in the 19th century lol. The ordering process was easy- ordered online and picked up from will call immediately before the show. Very pleasant experience all around.

    The playbill for tiny beautiful things!

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    This is A nice spot that stays hidden. A good place to eat and just chill. They had some unique dishes as well

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    Review Highlights - The Public Theater

    Which was also no surprise, seeing how it was written by and stars John Leguizamo, who is always terrific.

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    Nurse Bettie

    Nurse Bettie

    4.0
    (364 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$
    Happy hour specials
    Full bar

    I had really high hopes for this place and didn't have the experience I was expecting. Starting off…read morewith the positive, it's definitely a cool vibe when you first walk in. Throwback, sexy, vintage burlesque type of vibes with a small bar and seating area. It was not busy at all and there was a guy DJ'ing. You would think that a place like this would be able to make most craft cocktails. They did have a small cocktail menu and some written specials but I asked the bartender if he could make me a "Last Word." He looked at me for a moment and seemed confused or unsure and it was a no. Kinda threw me off, and then he handed me the menu. This gave me the implication that he's really only familiar with the ones on the menu. So then we decided to start easy with the beer and tequila shot combo. I asked for them chilled and instead of shaking them he stirred it which ended up taking longer but hey to each their own I guess. We also got a shot of amaro and he didn't seem to know which ones they carried so we had to point out to him which ones we wanted since they were on the wall behind him. Once we got our drinks, he proceeded to eat empanadas right in front of us. I get it, you gotta eat but I don't ever think it's good optics for anyone in service to be eating directly in front of their guests, especially at a very small bar. If anything, you step away and take a few bites and come back. At one point I went to use the bathroom and on my way back to the bar I asked the DJ if he took any requests. He firmly said "NO" and not in like a nice way, I mean we were the only people in the bar so we thought he could possibly play something upon request but it was a hard no. Overall it was a bit of an unusual experience, and for a nice cocktail bar we were disappointed with how things went. I hope that the bartenders learn how to make a last word at some point, it's a pretty popular classic cocktail. ‍

    Very very strict on closing time. They say 4am close but they don't let you in past 3:30..... the…read morebouncer says " the bartender say no more people" Is this LES ? Or fuckin Disney? Lameee

    Photos
    Nurse Bettie
    Nurse Bettie
    Nurse Bettie

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    House of Yes

    House of Yes

    3.9
    (377 reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $$

    A GREAT time was had at this night club. Don't have many photos to post from it because the phones…read morewere in the purse, but the hosts put on a great event and everything was so well put together and the venue was just as great! Would love to come back even though I live so far.

    SARAH, the security guard is a predator!!!!…read more I went to House of Yes last night for Futch, a lesbian dance party. I been a couple times before and met Sarah there. She was always so friendly and flirty with me. Last night I came with my new partner. As soon as we walked in, she was standing nearby and she looked angry seeing us together. The rest of the night, all I could feel were her eyes on me from afar. At one point, she passed by me and secretly caressed my ass. I felt very uncomfortable and asked my partner if we could leave right after. I didn't feel safe asking for a manager to report her as she's already a supervisor security there. This is supposed to be a safe space and I DID NOT FEEL SAFE!!! Apparently from another person there, she gets "around" with girls there and even denied someone entry because they were no longer together. I would think she would be more respectful and keep it professional. I DID NOT CONSENT FOR HER TOUCHING ME LAST NIGHT!!! It's gross to think this is their employer. I will no longer be going back and neither will some of my other friends. It sucks, I really loved that party.

    Photos
    View of the theater.  Main stage behind and extra box stage is separate.  Performers on both.
    View of the theater. Main stage behind and extra box stage is separate. Performers on both.
    Our view from premium seat (basically any front row seat).
    Our view from premium seat (basically any front row seat).
    Disco bathrooms

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    Disco bathrooms
    The Moth

    The Moth

    4.9
    (8 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    Looking for a unique night out? Get tickets to The Moth instantly. No really, they run out in five…read moreminutes, get on that. The Moth is a storytellers event that occurs at different places, and the one I went to was at Housing Works Bookstore and Cafe, which was the perfect venue. It started at 7:30 and ended at 9:30, there's no drink minimum, you can bring your own food, and tickets are cheap, but hard to get. It's essentially a show where people who'd previously entered their names get picked to tell stories in under five minutes. Anyone can do it, and anything can be said. There were funny ones, sad ones, dramatic ones, silly ones, overall twelve performances along with a host who introduces each one. They also sell drinks and snacks there, which goes to a great cause. Whether you're looking for something New Yorky, cheap, chill, cute, or thought-provoking, The Moth will satisfy.

    Going to a Story Slam hosted by The Moth is actually one of my favorite things to do in the city…read more The story slams happen 4-6 times a month at various locations around Manhattan and Brooklyn (see the website for schedule). Each slam has a different theme. If you feel that you have a worthy 5-min story, you can put your name in the bag, where they draw out names. Ten storytellers go up and these stories are judged by three teams of judges from the audience. The winner of the slam goes on to the Quarterly GrandSLAM Championship. It lasts about 2.5 hrs and costs $8. I've gone to a couple of these at the Housing Works and I'm always really impressed by the quality and talent of most of the storytellers. Many of them take this quite seriously and you can tell that they spent time crafting their story and delivery. The best stories aren't the ones that are merely funny, but they're poignant, send you on an emotional roller coaster of highs and lows, and leave you with a message and something to think about. There's a certain raw honesty and catharsis that comes through and the audience is always supportive, especially so for the new storytellers who stand up there alone and vulnerable. Indeed, if the audience feels the judges are too harsh, the audience lets the judges know. At the Story Slam at Housing Works, the doors open at 7 pm (stories start at 7:30). There are limited seats, so if you're dead set on sitting, stand in line by 5:30. There are plenty places to stand and get a good view as Housing Works' second floor is a mezzanine. Recently I got to the line by 6:30 and easily found a comfortable spot to stand and watch (wear comfortable shoes!). The ticket sales of the Story Slam goes directly to The Moth. Housing Works, which is a wonderful organization that helps people with HIV/AIDS, sells alcohol and snacks, so you're giving to a great cause by drinking.

    Photos
    The Moth
    The Moth

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    Accomplice The Show

    Accomplice The Show

    4.5
    (332 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    Accomplice continues to be an absolute favorite attraction in the NYC area and having not been to a…read moreshow in over ten years my recent visit did not disappoint. I was paired with a small group of out of town visitors who brought their family to NYC and wanted them to experience the Accomplice. The parents of the family group were repeat guests like myself who like me absolutely enjoyed their experience several years prior and wanted to share it with their family. It's NYC so even when you participate in the live experience it may seem awkward that an actor is making a scene (literally) on the streets of NYC but nobody bats an eye cause weirdness can feel normal on the streets of Manhattan. Accomplice still has the typical tour around the small area of the city where you interact with amazing actors and make your way to the grand finally where you share a simple drink with your group to celebrate your accomplishment. The staff do offer a hotline to get clues if you are stuck but thankfully my group was witty enough to figure out our way through our adventure. Accomplice is also great for corporate team building activities. I've raved about this experience at my office for years and one of my teams decided to book with the show. Not only did my office team have an amazing time but buzz is going around the office about this show that another team was considering booking but business guests thought it would be too cold in November for such an event; such party poopers! LOL! Corporate events include a three course meal and tons of fun! Highly recommend for both tourists and corporate team building events.

    A wonderful immersive theatre experience and great excuse to pop around some interesting places in…read moreThe Village. High recommend for 3 hours of fun.

    Photos
    Just finished the show!  Success.
    Just finished the show! Success.
    A fun afternoon in the village
    A fun afternoon in the village
    Guys day out

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    Guys day out
    Women are Crazy Because Men are A**holes

    Women are Crazy Because Men are A**holes

    4.8
    (4 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    This play is about a universal theme of love, sex and relationships. If you are looking for love,…read moreand who isn't, this show will speak to you. For me, everything in this comedic play seemed all too familiar..during the show, I kept on thinking, OMG I think I found bits and pieces of myself in all the women characters...which makes me ask myself, am I crazy?!!!??? I'm okay with that....because MEN ARE A**HOLES. One of the actors when introducing the play in the beginning and after the intermission was making the audience chant..he would say Women are crazy because men are........and the audience, made up of mostly females said......A**HOLES!!!!!!! It felt therapeutic to shout it out loud! I was really getting into it...I looked at my boyfriend and he was making a frowny face. ahahha. I was trying to get him to chant A**HOLES too but he wouldn't bite. He said men are a**holes because they used to be hunters...okay. ahahhahah. That's why I love him! He's my hunter, now go hunt! This play reminds me of the book, Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. The play is set at one of the character's home, Nicole is throwing a soiree to celebrate meeting her internet fling for the first time, at this soiree!! Nicole invited her whole entire family to meet this internet fling that she herself never met...WHO DOES THIS??!! Nicole's family consisted of her sister and her BF, her brother and his GF, and her best friend and her BF. There was another couple that were supposed to be at the soiree but never showed up. All these couples are all having dysfunctional relationships, which makes for a funny play. This play takes a look into human nature, human relationships and human behavior. Sometimes the play may seem over the top, overly dramatic and highly passionate to get some laughter from us, but I recognize the characters all to well!! I know people just like the characters on stage in this play. I definitely have seen some of the characteristics even in myself. I felt ashamed at times...but laughed at myself! The comic timing in this show is awesome. My favorite couple is Hillary and George who never even made it to the soiree! I was laughing through the whole show. Even coming back from the intermission was fun! Be forewarned, women are going to be portrayed as psychotic beings, men are going to be portrayed as insensitive liars and we all need each other in unhealthy ways. But at the end it's all for laughs and for fun which this play definitely accomplishes...I would highly recommend this entertaining show for any adult who has been through dating or relationship angsts. This show is definitely Rated R for RAUNCHY! See it if you want to laugh your A** off! Last day of show is June 21, HURRY!

    LOVE***LOVE***LOVE***LOVE***LOVE***LOVE***LOVE***­LOVE***LOVE***LOVE***LOVE…read more "Women are Crazy because Men are A*****!" You got to see this ... ^^traumatic - ^^hilarious - ^^relationships of all kinds ! ! ! With now days insane serial dating... and always looking for something better ((instead of searching within yourself first)).... Relationships have become a beautiful nightmare...... simply: confused dot com AND This "so here right now" play with its gifted cast which was perfectly bouncing of each other cracked us up from start to finish. This intelligent play was one of my favorite ones I have seen, as it is so merciless honest !!! Even with a smart New Yorker audience, am convinced everyone could recognize themselves at some point. Yes this a pretty genius piece !!!!! You could go with your other half or a date... that will be fun !!! A MUST--IF YOU STILL CAN GET TICKETS-- !!!! The Cherry Lane theatre: "Oh my"... this is the cutest charming theatre which is located at a tree lined old fashion cobble street and fairytale houses, the inside is as wonderful: intimate, comfy, simple, it is just right. My friend said she saw many plays here and all of them were exceptional. OH YES I WILL BE BACK ---- this is a hidden diamond --- DO GO and you will see what am talking about.

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    Women are Crazy Because Men are A**holes
    Women are Crazy Because Men are A**holes
    Women are Crazy Because Men are A**holes

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    The Public Theater - theater - Updated July 2026

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