Meryl Streep Donates $1 Million to the Public Theater in Honor of Joseph Papp and Nora Ephron

Public Theater alum Meryl Streep has just made one heck of a dent in her checkbook. The three-time Oscar winner (and 17-time nominee!) donated $1 million to The Public Theater, which will support the revitalization of the Public’s Astor Place homestead.

“I give this gift in honor of the founder of The Public Theater, my friend and mentor Joseph Papp, and in remembrance of one of the theater’s board members and greatest supporters, my friend Nora Ephron,” said Streep in a statement.

Streep’s involvement with the Public goes back over 35 years. This summer she appeared in the 50th Anniversary Gala performance of Romeo and Juliet at the Delacorte. Her other Public credits include the 2006 Shakespeare in the Park production of Mother Courage and Her Children, The Seagull, Trelawny of the Wells, Henry V, Measure for Measure, The Cherry Orchard, The Taming of the Shrew, Taken in Marriage and Alice at the Palace. She earned an Oscar nomination for starring Ephron's final film, 2009's Julia & Julie. 

Streep earned an Oscar nomination for starring Ephron's final film, 2009's Julia & Julie. Her next film is August: Osage County, the movie adaptation of Tracy Letts’ Tony-winning play. 

We bet the folks down at the Public are pretty thrilled, so if they need any celebratory music to dance to...here's Meryl boogying down to "Dancing Queen" in the Mamma Mia! movie.