Manus, who announced her departure from the downtown arts hub in April, was previously named the new executive director of the Film Society of Lincoln Center. She begins her new role in September.

Hamingson arrives at the Public after serving as the managing director of the Atlantic Theater Company since 2004. Prior to that, Hamingson was director of development for the Manhattan Theatre Club.

In a statement Hamingson said, "It is the fulfillment of a life-long dream to have been chosen for the executive director position at The Public Theater. There is no theater in our country with a richer history. Their dedication to producing new work by today's finest playwrights and presenting Shakespeare at the highest level is second to none. I look forward to applying my 20 years of professional theater management and fundraising experience at this esteemed institution in partnership with Oskar Eustis, the staff, and the board of directors."

Public Theater artistic director Oskar Eustis added, "I am delighted to welcome Andy as a partner to The Public Theater. Throughout this rigorous and highly competitive search process, his intelligence, passion and integrity made a deep impression on me and on all the Board members. His love of theater and his humanity are also apparent to anyone who spends time with him, and I am certain that we can achieve great things for The Public Theater. It is a good day on Astor Place."

During his time at the Atlantic Theater Company, Hamingson oversaw the negotiations, planning and construction of Atlantic's new $6 million theatre complex on West 16th Street and has been leading the team to renovate Atlantic's 20th St. main stage theatre. For MTC, he was responsible for raising $35 million capital campaign for the renovation of the Biltmore Theatre. Prior to being named director, he was deputy director of development, and associate director of development at MTC for seven years. *

The Public Theater was founded by Joseph Papp in 1954 as the Shakespeare Workshop and is now one of the nation's preeminent cultural institutions, producing new plays, musicals, productions of Shakespeare, and other classics at its headquarters on Lafayette Street and at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. The Public's mandate "to create a theatre for all New Yorkers continues to this day on stage and through its extensive outreach and education programs."

Each year, over 250,000 people attend Public Theater-related productions and events at six downtown stages, including Joe's Pub and Shakespeare in the Park.