NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- The famed Delacorte Theater in Central Park—home to The Public Theater's Free Shakespeare in the Park—has reopened following an 18-month renovation, with the first performance set for August.
“We’re here for the next generation. we're here for the little kids at home thinking, ‘I want to perform,’” said Arielle Tepper, a Public Theater board member, at Tuesday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The new theater, designed by Ennead Architects, features a stunning façade made from decommissioned city water towers. Inside, there are new seats, new lighting and a new drainage system.
Patrick Willingham, executive director of The Public Theater, said, “We didn’t just renovate a theater—we asked, ‘How do we make it better, more accessible, more inclusive, more sustainable?’”
The theater has been a cherished space for generations—a home to up-and-coming stars just planting their roots in the theatre world.
The renovation had been decades in the making. Built in a hurry more than 60 years ago, the old theater had put on countless productions over the years and endured plenty of wear and tear.
“It’s a palace for the people, and the people deserve the best,” said Oskar Eustis, artistic director of The Public Theater.
The first performance at the new theater will be “Twelfth Night,” running Aug. 7 to Sept. 14 and including a star-studded cast made up of Peter Dinklage, Lupita Nyong’o, Sandra Oh and more.