Steve Brown
Delacorte Theater Central Park
The Delacorte Theater is famous for annual productions - such as Shakespeare in the Park.
The Delacorte Theater, established in 1962, can be found just off 80th Street on the southwest corner of the Great Lawn. It is best known for The Public Theater's free Shakespeare in the Park production, one of New York City's most beloved summer traditions. Tens of thousands of New York natives and visitors come to the Delacorte to enjoy free Shakespeare. Two plays are produced each summer.
Tickets to shows at the Theater are free, to anyone who is prepared to wait in line on the morning of the performance to obtain them.
The theater itself is an open-air venue, which boasts a seating capacity of 1,872, offering clear views of the stage from any seat in the house.
Both Turtle Pond and the majestic Belvedere Castle can be seen in the background, completing the picturesque setting for this renowned Central Park icon.
Revitalization
The Public Theater, in partnership with Central Park Conservancy and the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, is embarking on a much-needed revitalization of the 61-year-old Delacorte Theater in Central Park. The renovation will officially begin in the fall of 2023.
History
The Delacorte Theater, operated by The Public Theater, founded by Joseph Papp, has hosted numerous productions of classic plays in addition to those by Shakespeare, such as Anton Chekov's The Seagull and Bertolt Brecht's Mother Courage and Her Children.
While the theater is responsible for having introduced many new talents to the stage, it also frequently employs more well-known actors and actresses, including Meryl Streep, Al Pacino, and Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Location History
When the Shakespeare Festival initially transitioned from using various venues across the city to staging shows in Central Park, they faced the challenge of not having a permanent theater at their disposal. Consequently, they resorted to presenting performances on the expansive Great Lawn, situated in front of Turtle Pond.
The Great Lawn encompasses approximately 30 acres of flat terrain. At that time, the body of water now known as Turtle Pond went by the name Belvedere Lake, referencing the castle located nearby. Productions were staged on temporary setups specifically erected for the season, while theatergoers either occupied folding chairs or laid out their blankets on the ground to enjoy the shows.
It was within this particular area that the parks commissioner voiced concerns about damage caused by patrons (although one could argue that the presence of baseball fields in the vicinity may have also contributed to soil compaction).
When Papp decided to address the issue through legal means, the commissioner eventually relented. Subsequently, the commissioner managed to secure funds from the city, along with private donations, to construct a theater for future use.