Merle Debuskey is considered the dean of New York theatrical press agents. He worked from 1948 until his retirement in 1996, publicizing over 500 theatrical productions. He was the first press agent for Joseph Papp and the New York Shakespeare Festival/The Public Theater (1950s-1985) and the Lincoln Center Theater. He also was in charge of press for Circle in the Square for 30 years. He is credited with developing the first Actors’ Equity agreement for Off-Broadway theatres in 1949. 

While attending public relations classes at the New School for Social Research in New York City, Debuskey’s friends introduced him to the theatre world. In 1948, he co-created The Interplayers, a theatre group that performed at the Provincetown Playhouse. Some of the first productions he publicized were THE INFERNAL MACHINE (1948), TOO MANY THUMBS (1949), and EARTH SPIRIT (1950). He helped cultivate a workable document, with Actors’ Equity, that became the foundation of future Off-Broadway contracts. During his stint with The Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival, Debuskey publicized Shakespeare in the Park and fought to keep the productions free of charge. In 1953, he was the press agent for Off-Broadway’s THE WORLD OF SHOLOM ALEICHEM. This play was controversial because it included blacklisted actors. His passion for civil rights fueled his publicity work with this production. After The Public Theater, Debuskey went on to work with Circle in the Square, and then, with Bernard Gersten, he was pivotal in turning Lincoln Center Theater into a successful enterprise, which Gersten guided until his retirement.