The Delacorte Theater is a 1,800-seat open-air theater in Central Park, in the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is home to the Public Theater's free Shakespeare in the Park productions. As of September 2023, it has been closed for renovations that are expected to complete in spring 2025.
 The theater in 2021 | |
 | |
| Address | Central Park Manhattan, New York United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°46′48.36″N 73°58′7.56″W / 40.7801000°N 73.9687667°W |
| Owner | City of New York |
| Operator | Public Theater |
| Capacity | 1,800 |
| Opened | June 18, 1962[1] |
| Tenants | |
| Shakespeare in the Park | |
Over five million people have attended more than 150 free productions of Shakespeare and other classical works and musicals at the Delacorte Theater since its opening in 1962.[2]
History
editJoseph Papp ran a Shakespeare festival starting in 1954. Papp's group had been touring New York's boroughs on temporary staging, including presenting at Central Park. Papp's group was well-regarded, and he started seeking funds in 1958 for a permanent outdoor amphitheater in Central Park, with the aid of Helen Hayes. Parks Commissioner Robert Moses was opposed to the project. However, Moses was replaced by Newbold Morris in 1960, who was much more positive toward the creation of a theater. The city government decided to go forward with the project, and the Board of Estimate approved $250,000 in funds for construction, with Park Department architects designing the original theater. The theater had been planned to open in 1961. However, the funds ran dry with the theater unfinished. Morris talked with his friend George T. Delacorte Jr., president of the Dell Publishing company. Delacorte, a fan of Shakespeare, agreed to fund the remaining $150,000 to finish construction of the theater, which was named in honor of him and his wife Valerie in gratitude.[3]
Delays from changes in design, a construction strike, as well as procuring the required funds from Delacorte pushed the opening back to 1962. The first production at the theater was in June 1962 with The Merchant of Venice, starring George C. Scott and James Earl Jones.[4] The theater originally had 2,300 seats;[3] at some point, the number of seats was reduced to make the experience less overcrowded for the audience.
In 2012 the Public celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Delacorte with a gala and a one-night only reading of Romeo and Juliet starring numerous past performers. Meryl Streep and Kevin Kline read the lead roles.[5]
2023–2025 renovation
editIn 2018, the Public announced plans for the first major renovation of the Delacorte.[6][7] They cited several goals for the renovation: better accessibility for disabled patrons and performers, improved backstage flow and operations, a new facade, replacement of the stage floor due to exposure and weather damage to the original deck, and better lighting.[8] Bjarke Ingels was originally hired to redesign the theater,[6][7] but Ennead Architects was handling the architectural work by 2021.[9][10] The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission approved the plans in January 2022.[11][12]
The Delacorte closed for renovation in September 2023[13][14] after the final show of the summer 2023 season, a musical version of The Tempest, closed.[15] The renovation is expected to take around 18 months, with the theater planned to reopen in time for the summer 2025 season.[13][16] As part of the renovation, the theater is being rebuilt with wood recycled from water towers atop apartment buildings in New York City.[17]
References
edit- ^ Gardner, Paul (June 19, 1962). "Central Park's Shakespeare Amphitheatre Dedicated; Name Honors G.T. Delacorte, Donor of $150,000". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
- ^ "Public Theater – Home". www.publictheater.org. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
- ^ a b Kandel, Myron (May 27, 1962). "The Bard's New Home in the Park; Recollections". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
- ^ Central Park Conservancy Archived July 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
- ^ Morris, Bob (June 20, 2012). "A Bronx Guy Talks Trippingly". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
- ^ a b Pogrebin, Robin (November 1, 2018). "A Restoration for Shakespeare's Home in Central Park". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
- ^ a b Walker, Ameena (November 1, 2018). "Central Park's iconic Delacorte Theater will get Bjarke Ingels-designed makeover". Curbed NY. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
- ^ "Revitalizing the Delacorte".
- ^ Hickman, Matt (December 9, 2021). "Central Park's iconic Delacorte Theater will get a historic $77 million revamp". The Architect’s Newspaper. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
- ^ Rahmanan, Anna (December 9, 2021). "Check out these renderings of the revamped Delacorte Theater in Central Park". Time Out New York. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
- ^ Cohen, Michelle (December 8, 2021). "Landmarks approves design for $77M renovation of Delacorte Theater in Central Park". 6sqft. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
- ^ Yakas, Ben (January 26, 2022). "Central Park's Delacorte Theater Approved For Renovations After Pandemic Delays". Gothamist. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
- ^ a b Hickey, Magee (September 4, 2023). "Delacorte Theater closes for renovations". PIX11. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
- ^ Levin, Annie (September 8, 2023). "A Musical Rendition of 'The Tempest' Marks the End of an Era at the Delacorte". Observer. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
- ^ Green, Jesse (August 31, 2023). "Review: In Central Park, 'The Tempest' Sings Farewell to Magic". The New York Times.
- ^ "Delacorte Theater closing for $77 million renovations". NBC New York. August 30, 2023. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
- ^ Barron, James (October 11, 2024). "The Wood That's Starring in the Delacorte Theater Renovation". The New York Times. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
External links
edit
Media related to Delacorte Theater at Wikimedia Commons- Shakespeare in the Park Official Website
