Theater critic Jerry Tallmer, remarking on Joseph Papp's death on October 31, 1991, said, He was a guy from Brooklyn who had a passion for Shakespeare and a passion for people. He was able to combine the two like no one else ever did. Barbara Horn, documenting Papp's career, declares it to have been inextricably tied to that of the New York Shakespeare Festival, which Papp founded in 1954, serving as its artistic leader for 37 years, and which survives him. His dream of producing free Shakespeare in the Park was expanded into the largest arts institution in the United States, combining Shakespeare with innovative contemporary theater performed at his nonprofit Public Theater as well as in New York City parks and schools. Papp produced some 450 plays, directing over 40. He nurtured some of the greatest playwriting talents, including Vaclav Havel, David Mamet, David Rabe, David Henry Hwang, John Guare, and Tina Howe, and provided opportunities for fledgling actors, among them George C. Scott, Colleen Dewhurst, James Earl Jones, Al Pacino, Kevin Kline, Raul Julia, Meryl Streep, and William Hurt. Public Theater plays such as Hair, A Chorus Line, and That Championship Season became huge hits on Broadway.

Papp's productions, most with the New York Shakespeare Festival, are thoroughly documented, with credits, runs, synopses, and review commentary in this reference guide, which also includes a chronology of Papp's life and career, a biographical sketch, an annotated bibliography of works by and about Papp, and appendixes on film and television credits, related activities, and awards. Indexes of authors of bibliographic works, of playwrights and playtitles, and of production crew and cast complete the work.