Image Credit: © Jeff Goldberg/Esto
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Twelfth Night will take flight after more than a year of sitting tight, as the Delacorte Theater in Central Park reopens following an $85 million revamp. Starring Lupita Nyong’o, Sandra Oh, and Peter Dinklage, the Bard’s comedic play—set for Thursday, August 7—marks the start of a new era for the stage and its gatherers.
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The Delacorte, built in 1962, had not seen a significant upgrade since 1999, according to the Public Theater’s website. The core design objectives of the renovation addressed urgent code and safety needs, along with major improvements to infrastructure and backstage efficiency. Key upgrades include ramps for audiences and more accessible seating, an accessible box office and concessions booths, and modified stage and work areas for artists, company members, and staff. The building also now features improved signage, newly designed lighting towers to enhance performances, and a striking new façade made from reclaimed redwood sourced from decommissioned water tanks across New York City. Behind the scenes, new water protection and drainage systems were installed to help mitigate flooding.
Image Credit: © Jeff Goldberg/Esto
Running from August 7 to September 14, Twelfth Night will be the sole production in the 2025 Shakespeare in the Park season. Written in 1599, this complex comedy—filled with characters living double lives and telling lies—is ultimately about self-discovery and the romantic love that got away. It’s an apt choice to make this Shakespeare season feel special.
Christopher Walken, Morgan Freeman, Julia Stiles (gotta love that 10 Things I Hate About You is a remake of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew), James Earl Jones, and Rachel Dratch are just a few of the many talents who have graced the Delacorte stage.
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Getting tickets might be tough, but there are now more ways for people near and far to get in: a digital lottery with TodayTix, in-person lotteries at The Public Theater, ticket distribution in Central Park and across the boroughs, and a standby line in Central Park. More info here.
Free tickets are distributed at 12 p.m. on every day a public performance is scheduled. There’s also a standby line at the venue that begins at 6 p.m.
The Delacorte is an open-air venue with a seating capacity of 1,872. It’s located off West 80th Street on the southwest corner of the Great Lawn.
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