Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, and More Participate in Public Forum: A Festival of Songwriting

The Public Theater continued its seventh season of Public Forum events with Public Forum: A Festival of Songwriting from May 17-20 at Joe's Pub.

Public Forum: A Festival of Songwriting was a series of conversations about the art of songwriting and featured appearances by Heather Christian (Obie Award-winning composer and performer), Dave Malloy (The Great Comet), Mitski (indie rock singer), Meredith Monk (composer, performer, director), Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (Dear Evan Hansen), Duncan Sheik (Spring Awakening), Somi (African jazz, soul, pop), and Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home). Each artist discussed what it is that they do when they write a song and their own personal approach to the problems of songwriting.

The Public Theater's Public Forum produces events ranging from stand-alone evenings of performance and conversation to postshow talkbacks with audiences, artists, and guest speakers as well as digital content.

The next Public Forum event will be Public Forum: Young Radicals on June 8. The event asks, "How do artists stand up to be counted as citizens? Why do idealists fight for their ideals?" Jeremy McCarter will make an appearance to discuss his book Young Radicals, about about idealistic young Americans risking their lives in the years of hope and calamity around World War I.