After 18 long months and $85 million worth of overhaul to Central Park’s Delacorte Theater, it’s back and better than ever ahead of its August debut.
The beloved theater venue co-ran by The Public Theater will officially re-open on August 7th for its beloved “Shakespeare in the Park” series, offering New Yorkers free performances of Twelfth Night to close out the summer.
As for the new renovations, which became possible from a $42 million investment from the City of New York through the Office of the Mayor, New York City Council, and Manhattan Borough President’s Office, aimed to improve both visitors and artists’s overall experience.
“The revitalization of The Delacorte isn’t just an upgrade; it’s a profound commitment to the future of free theater in Central Park,” said Patrick Willingham, the Executive Director of The Public Theater.
“Alongside our incredible partners from the public and private sectors who believed in the power of this mission, we’ve transformed this iconic space into a more comfortable, sustainable, and welcoming environment for everyone who believes culture belongs to every New Yorker.”
Led by Ennead Architects, the theater’s facelift spans from the exterior to the dressing rooms—completely re-envisioning some of the venue’s crucial aspects.
The upgrades for the new Delacorte Theater are headlined by:
- A new exterior made of of reclaimed redwood from decommissioned water towers sourced from all of New York’s five boroughs
- Major accessibility improvements
- Two new gates offering accessibility entrance, with a wide cross aisle enabled for everyone to move freely through the space while maintaining great stage views
- Doubled the amount of ADA accessible seats, with each seat being wider—plus more wheelchair seating locations
- Additional ramps, lifts, and elevators for artists with disabilities to enter and exit the stage
- Improved dressing rooms for artists and backstage facilities with full climate-control and visual live feeds
- Renovated bathrooms — especially for women who would often have to wait long lengths during intermission
“The new Delacorte experience is better for the audience. It’s better for the performers, designers, crew, staff, and most importantly, we are now ready for what comes next. We’re here for the next generation,” said Arielle Tepper, former board chair at The Public.
“It is about making sure that everyone feels welcome here at the Delacorte, no matter who they are, where they’re from, or if they’ve never seen live theater before.”
The showing of Twelfth Night will star huge names like Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Peter Dinklage, Lupita Nyong’o, and Sandra Oh.
Nyong’o is particularly excited about the production, having watched it growing up, and the camaraderie New Yorkers experience at the theater.
“I love the deception and the disguise, and how nothing is what it seems to be,” she told Vanity Fair. “It’s ballsy, and it’s over the top, and it’s fun.”
She added, “The Delacorte experience starts before you’re in the theater. People are having picnics in their line. There’s music. There’s that community feeling.”
We have a feeling this season will be extraordinary. Delacorte Theater’s FREE performances of “Shakespeare in the Park” begins on August 7th and will run through September 14th — and New Yorkers can learn how to get tickets here.