What Happens at the End of Joe Papp in Five Acts?

Joe Papp, the founder of the New York Shakespeare Festival and, subsequently, The Public Theater—arguably the most important theatre in North America—is profiled in this documentary that neither sanctifies nor vilifies him. He brought us free Shakespeare in the Park, Hair and A Chorus Line, and nurtured many of America’s greatest playwrights, directors and actors. His complex personality and mercurial behavior are much in evidence and spoken of with frankness through interviews with some of America’s most celebrated artists, including Meryl Streep, Christopher Walken, Martin Sheen, Kevin Kline, and James Earl Jones.

Tracie Holder's narrative builds toward a resolution centered on Olympia Dukakis (Self)'s journey. He brought us free Shakespeare in the Park, Hair and A Chorus Line, and nurtured many of America’s greatest playwrights, directors and actors.

How Does Olympia Dukakis (Self)'s Story End?

• Olympia Dukakis: Olympia Dukakis's storyline wraps up in the final act, though some viewers have found the resolution more ambiguous than expected.
• David Hare (Self): David Hare's role in the climax proves pivotal to how the central conflict resolves.
• David Henry Hwang (Self): David Henry Hwang's character undergoes a significant shift in the final act.

What Does the Ending of Joe Papp in Five Acts Mean?

The ending of Joe Papp in Five Acts brings the narrative to a close, though viewer reception has been mixed. The resolution of Olympia Dukakis's story may not satisfy all audiences.