papp fostered other theatre throughout new york city, in particular the development of numerous off broadway theatres, often contributing funds from successful broadway transfers, such as "a chorus line". these included theatre for a new audience, which presented several productions at the delacourte, and the riverside shakespeare company, in which papp took a special interest, beginning with the sponsorship of the new york premiere of brecht's "the life of edward ii of england" in 1982, continuing with the financial underwriting of riverside's new york parks tours of free shakespeare, including "the comedy of errors" in (1982), "merry wives of windsor" in 1983, "romeo and juliet" in 1984, and "romeo and juliet" in 1985. in 1983, papp dedicated the newly renovated theatre of the shakespeare center with helen hayes.