NEWSLETTER
New York, N.Y. (January 15, 2026) – The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) announced today complete casting for the world premiere of PUBLIC CHARGE, a bracing new play based on true events written by former United States Ambassador Julissa Reynoso and award-winning playwright Michael J. Chepiga and directed by Tony Award winner Doug Hughes. PUBLIC CHARGE begins performances in The Public’s Newman Theater with a Joseph Papp Free Performance on Thursday, March 12. The production officially opens on Wednesday, March 25 and runs through Sunday, April 5.
In 1982, seven-year-old Julissa immigrates to the U.S from the Dominican Republic. In 2009, she leaves her successful practice at a Wall Street law firm to supervise Caribbean and Central American Affairs for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. PUBLIC CHARGE chronicles the challenging education of a twenty-first century American diplomat as she works with scores of other dedicated public servants to deploy humanitarian aid to an earthquake-ravaged Haiti, navigate the roiling politics of immigration, confront the reality of international espionage, and free a wrongly imprisoned American from a Cuban prison. This bracing world premiere by former United States Ambassador Julissa Reynoso and award-winning playwright Michael J. Chepiga is, at its core, about a group of Americans who believe, sometimes against all appearances to the contrary, that their government might actually be a force for good upon the frighteningly chaotic world stage. Tony Award winner Doug Hughes directs this first-hand account of the principled use of power and the enormous potential of keen intelligence, hard work, and good will to bridge seemingly irreconcilable conflict.
“I feel so extraordinarily lucky and blessed to be able to tell this story about the American experience and the power of its public servants,” said playwright Julissa Reynoso.
“Getting a play to the stage of The Public Theater has been quite an adventure,” said playwright Michael J. Chepiga. “PUBLIC CHARGE would not be where it is without the amazing contributions of Doug Hughes, Oskar Eustis, an absolutely incredible cast, and the wonderful, creative, dedicated staff of The Public Theater—and, of course, Julissa herself, sharing her true American story of public service.”
The complete cast of PUBLIC CHARGE includes Marinda Anderson (Cheryl Mills), Nate Betancourt (Understudy), Maggie Bofill (Josefina Vidal/Others), John J. Concado (Consular Officer 1/Others), Dan Domingues (Ricardo Zuniga), Zabryna Guevara (Julissa Reynoso), Yesenia Iglesias (Understudy), Paco Lozano (Understudy), Nairoby Otero (Understudy), Armando Riesco (Bruno Rodriguez/Others), Al Rodrigo (Bolanos/Mujica/Others), and Barbara Walsh (Judy Gross).
“I’m thrilled to be directing PUBLIC CHARGE,” said director Doug Hughes. “It’s invigorating to work on an adventure story about U.S government officials actually working to make something good happen on the global stage.”
PUBLIC CHARGE features scenic design by Arnulfo Maldonado, costume design by Haydee Zelideth, lighting design by Ben Stanton, sound design by David Van Tieghem, video design by Lucy Mackinnon, hair and wigs design by Earon Nealey, prop management by Samantha Llanes Gordon, and dramaturgy by Jack Phillips Moore. Roxana Khan will serve as production stage manager and Molly Foy as stage manager.
The Public Theater will kick off 2026 with a production of Elevator Repair Service’s take on James Joyce’s ULYSSES, directed by John Collins, with co-direction and dramaturgy by Scott Shepherd. Anna Ziegler’s ANTIGONE (THIS PLAY I READ IN HIGH SCHOOL), a riveting take on Sophocles’ classic, premieres in the Anspacher with direction by Tyne Rafaeli. Ma-Yi Theater Company's season-long residency continues with the world premiere of JESA by Jeena Yi and directed by Mei Ann Teo. Later in the spring, The Public will present SEAGULL: TRUE STORY, produced by MART Foundation, written by Eli Rarey, and created and directed by Alexander Molochniov after a successful run at La MaMa last spring. Finally, the 25-26 Astor Place season will conclude with the much-anticipated world premiere of GIRL, INTERRUPTED based on the groundbreaking memoir by Susanna Kaysen, with a book by Martyna Majok, original music by Aimee Mann, choreography by Sonya Tayeh, and direction by Jo Bonney.
SHAKESPEARE FOR THE CITY, presented by Citizens, returns this summer with programming all across New York City. First up will be Mobile Unit’s AS YOU LIKE IT, directed by inaugural Directing Fellow Emma Rosa Went. The first production at The Delacorte this summer will be Free Shakespeare in the Park’s ROMEO AND JULIET, directed by Public Theater Associate Artistic Director Saheem Ali. SHAKESPEARE FOR THE CITY will conclude with Free Shakespeare in the Park’s THE WINTER’S TALE directed by Delacorte veteran Daniel Sullivan.
The Library serves food and drink beginning at 5:00 p.m. and closing at midnight. The Library is closed on Mondays. For more information, visit publictheater.org.
BIOS:
JULISSA REYNOSO (Playwright) is an experienced diplomat, policymaker, and lawyer. She was born in the Dominican Republic and grew up in the Bronx. She is a partner at the international law firm of Winston and Strawn. Reynoso served as U.S. Ambassador to Spain and Andorra and Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to Dr. Jill Biden in the Biden Administration. During the Obama Administration, Reynoso served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs and then as U.S. Ambassador to Uruguay. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Government from Harvard University, Master’s in Philosophy from the University of Cambridge, and law degree from Columbia University School of Law. Reynoso is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the American Law Institute. She is widely published in English and Spanish on an array of issues for both popular press and academic journals. Besides Public Charge, she currently is developing two other plays with her co-writer Michael Chepiga. Thank you to Hillary Rodham Clinton, Glenn Close, Doug Hughes, Oskar Eustis, Michael Chepiga, and countless friends and family for believing in this story.
MICHAEL J. CHEPIGA (Playwright). Plays include Getting and Spending (Broadway), Matter of Honor (Edgerton Foundation Grant, NAACP Theater Award nominations), A Christmas Intervention, Best Supporting Actor, Four Sisters, The Meeting of the Creditors of J. Matthew Spengler, numerous 10-minute plays (approximately his attention span). Two-time O’Neill National Playwrights Conference, Weissberger Foundation Prize, Beverley Hills Theater Guild Julie Harris Award. Studied at Fordham, NYU, and Yale. Sort of. Practiced law at a large NYC law firm where he and Julissa Reynoso met. Best productions: Geoffrey, Emily, Greer, Renner, Stella, William (co-producer, his long-suffering wife, Pamela). Love and gratitude to them and to Tenley and Patrick.
DOUG HUGHES (Director) most recently directed Brian Friel’s Translations for Irish Repertory Theatre. His production was declared “masterful” by The New Yorker and “exquisite” by The New York Times which designated it a Critic’s Pick. New York Magazine declared the show “a triumph” and placed it on its list of the 10 best theatrical events of 2023. His many Broadway productions include Junk (Tony nomination, Best Play), The Father (Tony nomination, Best Play), Outside Mullingar (Tony nomination, Best Play), The Big Knife, An Enemy of the People, Born Yesterday, Elling, Mrs. Warren's Profession, Oleanna, The Royal Family (Tony nomination, Best Revival of a Play), A Man for All Seasons, Mauritius, Inherit the Wind (Tony nomination, Best Revival of a Play), A Touch of the Poet, Frozen (Tony nominations for Best Play and Best Director) and Doubt (Tony, Best Play and Best Director). Off-Broadway productions include Socrates, Dan Cody's Yacht, Incognito, The City of Conversation, Death Takes a Holiday, The Whipping Man, Farragut North, The Paris Letter, Othello, Henry V, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, An Experiment with an Air Pump, McReele, Flesh and Blood, The Beard of Avon, A Question of Mercy, The Grey Zone, and Defiance. He has directed classic and new work at Actors Theatre of Louisville, Ahmanson Theatre, Arena Stage, the Gate Theatre in Dublin, Geffen Playhouse, Guthrie Theater, Hartford Stage, La Jolla Playhouse, Mark Taper Forum, McCarter Theatre, Seattle Rep, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Yale Repertory Theatre, and the Long Wharf Theatre, where he served as Artistic Director and was awarded the Governor of Connecticut’s Medal for the Arts. In addition to the Tony, he has been awarded Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Lucille Lortel, Obie, and Callaway Awards for his productions.
MARINDA ANDERSON (Cheryl Mills). The Public: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Mobile Unit), Teenage Dick, Miss You Like Hell. Broadway: Yellow Face. Off-Broadway: Merry Me (NYTW); You Will Get Sick (Roundabout); Sandblasted
NATE BETANCOURT he/him (Understudy) is a Puerto Rican actor/improviser making his Public Theater debut. Off-Broadway: Drunk Shakespeare; the beautiful land i seek (Pregones/PRTT). Film: Crabs in a Barrel. Improv: BATSU!. Thanks to mom, dad, Titi, and Alisa. Let’s Go Mets! natebetancourt.actor IG: nate_no_chaser
MAGGIE BOFILL (Josefina Vidal/Others). Founding member of LAByrinth Theater Company. Theater: Tracy in Judgement Day (Chicago Shakespeare Theater, dir. Moritz von Stuelpnagel); Inez in Somewhere (Guthrie, dir. Joseph Haj); Estella in Laughs In Spanish (Denver Center/ Hartford Stage, dir. Lisa Portes); Nora in A Doll’s House, Part 2 (Long Wharf, dir. Will Davis); Amalia/Soyla in American Mariachi (The Alley/Two River, dir. KJ Sanchez & James Vasquez). TV: “Elsbeth,” “FBI: Most Wanted,” “Law & Order: SVU.” Wrote/featured in short Cuban American Gothic, nationally aired on PBS
JOHN J. CONCADO he/him/el (Consular Officer 1/Others). The Public: Romeo y Julieta (bilingual audio play). Off-Broadway: War Words, Locusts Have No King (INTAR), Bamboo in Bushwick, Mariela en el desierto (en español). Regional: The National Pastime, Jesus Hopped the A Train. Film: Un abogado en Nueva York, Paris is in Harlem, 42 Seconds of Happiness, Argentinian Intervention. TV: “The Deuce” (HBO), “FBI: Most Wanted” (CBS). MA Psychology, Columbia University. Para mamá, papá, Emi y Sebastián - bienvenido al mundo, campeón! @concado & johnconcado.com
DAN DOMINGUES (Ricardo Zuniga). The Public: The Tempest, Wild Goose Dreams, The Great Immensity. Off-Broadway: New World Stages, 59E59, Rattlestick, Abingdon, BAM, INTAR, Atlantic, Sheen, Cherry Lane. Select regional: Arizona Theatre, Pioneer, Virginia Stage, The REP, Bay Street, George Street, Alley, Arena, Guthrie, Goodman, Long Wharf, Portland Stage. Film: Notice to Quit, Run All Night. TV: “New Amsterdam,” “Blacklist,” “Royal Pains,” “Law & Order.” Training: MFA from A.R.T. Associate Artist: The Civilians. hotdatepod.com
ZABRYNA GUEVARA (Julissa Reynoso), a NY native, has roots in theater where she’s originated and starred in off-Broadway shows including My Broken Language, Pulitzer Prize-winning Water by the Spoonful, Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue, The Cook, Chimichangas & Zoloft, Sonia Flew, El Paso Blue, Santa Concepción, Tight Embrace, Now and Then, and Bulrusher. Most recently on television she stars in the hit show “Daredevil: Born Again,” “Happy Face” alongside Dennis Quaid, “The Hunting Party,” “Emergence,” and “New Amsterdam.”
YESENIA IGLESIAS she/her/ella (Understudy) is a Washington, D.C.-based artist and educator from Bayamón, Puerto Rico. She is thrilled to be making her Public Theater debut! Select theater credits include Don't Eat the Mangos (Huntington Theater), Metamorphoses (Folger Shakespeare), At the Wedding (Studio Theater), Primary Trust (Signature Theater), POTUS... (Arena Stage), A Christmas Carol (Ford's Theater), The Garbologists (Theater Alliance), among others. Incredibly grateful to her family, and Nicole at MMV Talent! MFA: University of Washington.
PACO LOZANO (Understudy). The Public: Mother Courage, Much Ado About Nothing. Off-Broadway: Fuente Ovejuna (TFANA). Regional: The Crucible, I’m Not Rappaport, Road to Ruin, Millionairess (Asolo Rep). TV: “Best Medicine” (Fox), “Manifest” (NBC/Netflix), “Law & Order: Organized Crime” (NBC), “FBI: Most Wanted” (NBC), “Elsbeth” (CBS), “Jessica Jones” (Netflix), “The Good Wife” (CBS), “Bridge &Tunnel” (Epix). MFA: FSU/Asolo Conservatory.
NAIROBY OTERO she/her (Understudy). Recent credits include The Chairs, The Bear, El Huracán. Numerous regional credits from GableStage to Southern Repertory Theatre. Film: A Second Embrace (Official Selection: LA Shorts International Film Festival, Toronto Shorts International Film). TV: “Law and Order: Organized Crime.” As a writer and performer, her solo play ‘Til Sunday has toured nationally. Awards: Schubert Scholar, TOW International Research Fellow. Education: MFA, Brooklyn College. NairobyOtero.com @nairobyotero
ARMANDO RIESCO he/him (Bruno Rodriguez/Others). The Public: Deep Blue Sound, Toast. Off-Broadway: Happiest Song Plays Last, Water by the Spoonful, Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue, Evolution, Four. Regional: La Jolla Playhouse, Steppenwolf, Goodman, Wilma. Film: Adult World, National Treasure, Che, Garden State, World Trade Center. TV: "The Chi," "National Treasure: Edge of History," "Queen of the South," "Bull," "And Just Like That." Education: BSSP Northwestern University.
AL RODRIGO he/him/el (Bolanos/Mujica/Others). The Public: Blood Wedding, Death of Garcia Lorca. Broadway: Open Admissions. Off-Broadway: Don Juan, Señorita From Tacna, New York 1937. Regional: Simona’s Search, Stir, Destiny of Desire, Kiss My Aztec!, The Happiest Song Plays Last, Marriage of Figaro, Bandido!, Romeo and Juliet, Pericles. TV: “Cross,” “The Blacklist,” “NCIS,” “Jane,” “Fatal Attraction,” “Swagger,” “Truth Be Told,” “All the Queen’s Men.” Film: Last Rites, The Bird Cage, House of Sand and Fog, The Glass Shield. Education: NYC High School of Performing Arts and Syracuse University BFA. alrodrigo.com
BARBARA WALSH (Judy Gross). The Public: First Daughter Suite. Broadway: Falsettos (Tony, Drama Desk Nominations, LA Ovation Award), Company (Drama Desk Nomination), Hairspray, Big, Blood Brothers, Nine, Rock 'N Roll! The First 5000 Years. National Tours: Oklahoma! (Original James Hammerstein production and Daniel Fish production), Nine, Les Miz, Chess, Falsettos. Off Broadway: Macbeth (CSC), Summer and Smoke (CSC and Transport Group). Regional: Master Class (Paper Mill Playhouse), Dinner with Friends (Old Globe). TV: “Law & Order,” “Madam Secretary,” “Goosebumps.”
THE PUBLIC continues the work of its visionary founder Joe Papp as a civic institution engaging, both on-stage and off, with some of the most important ideas and social issues of today. Conceived over 60 years ago as one of the nation’s first nonprofit theaters, The Public has long operated on the principles that theater is an essential cultural force and that art and culture belong to everyone. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Oskar Eustis and Executive Director Patrick Willingham, The Public’s wide breadth of programming includes an annual season of new work at its landmark home at Astor Place, Free Shakespeare in the Park at The Delacorte Theater in Central Park, the Mobile Unit touring throughout New York City’s five boroughs, Public Works, and Joe’s Pub. Since premiering HAIR in 1967, The Public continues to create the canon of American Theater and is currently represented on Broadway by the Tony Award-winning musicals Hamilton by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Hell’s Kitchen by Alicia Keys and Kristoffer Diaz. Their programs and productions can also be seen regionally across the country and around the world. The Public has received 64 Tony Awards, 195 Obie Awards, 62 Drama Desk Awards, 64 Lortel Awards, 36 Outer Critic Circle Awards, 13 New York Drama Critics’ Circle Awards, 72 AUDELCO Awards, 6 Antonyo Awards, and 6 Pulitzer Prizes. publictheater.org
The Public Theater stands in honor of the first inhabitants and our ancestors. We acknowledge the land on which The Public and its theaters stand—the original homeland of the Lenape people. We acknowledge the painful history of genocide and forced removal from this territory. We honor the generations of stewards and we pay our respects to the many diverse indigenous peoples still connected to this land.
Produced by special arrangement with Tripp Hornick and Hillary Rodham Clinton.
The opinions and characterizations in this piece are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the U.S. government.
TICKET INFORMATION
PUBLIC CHARGE begins performances in The Public’s Newman Theater with a Joseph Papp Free Performance on Thursday, March 12. The production officially opens on Wednesday, March 25 and runs through Sunday, April 5.
Tickets are available now and can be accessed by visiting publictheater.org, calling 212.967.7555, or in person at the Taub Box Office at The Public Theater at 425 Lafayette Street.
The Public’s Joseph Papp Free Performance initiative will offer free tickets to the performance on Thursday, September 11 through TodayTix. The Lottery will open for entries on Thursday, September 4 and will close at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 10. Winners will be notified by email and push notification anytime from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and if selected, winners will have one hour to claim their tickets.
The performance schedule is Tuesday through Sunday at 7:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 1:00 p.m. (There will be no 1:00 p.m. performance on Saturday, March 14 or Sunday, March 15.)
The Audio Described performance will be on Saturday, March 28 at 1:00 p.m. The Open Captioned performance will be on Sunday, March 29 at 1:00 p.m. The American Sign Language Interpreted performance will be on Friday, April 3 at 7:00 p.m.
The full performance calendar can be found at publictheater.org.
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