The Public Theater — Delacorte Theater
The Delacorte Theater is the open-air home of Free Shakespeare in the Park, the summer programme run by The Public Theater in the middle of New York's Central Park. For more than sixty years it has staged large-scale Shakespeare productions — often with major stage and screen actors — entirely free to the public, with tickets distributed by lottery and on-site rather than sold. James Earl Jones, Meryl Streep, Al Pacino and many others have performed on its stage.
The roughly 1,800-seat amphitheatre sits beside Turtle Pond beneath Belvedere Castle, and a summer evening there — under the open sky, with the park around you — is one of New York's signature cultural experiences. The Public's summer Shakespeare programming typically runs from late spring through summer and frequently extends beyond the Delacorte itself, with a Mobile Unit touring free productions to parks and community venues across all five boroughs.
Because the productions are free, this is a high-value destination for any Shakespeare lover visiting New York in summer — though it requires planning ahead for the ticket lottery. The Public Theater's main building downtown on Astor Place runs a separate year-round season.
History
The tradition began in 1954, when producer and director Joseph Papp founded what became The Public Theater and started staging free Shakespeare in New York. After early performances elsewhere, the work moved to Central Park, and in 1962 the permanent open-air Delacorte Theater opened — funded by and named for philanthropist George T. Delacorte — as the home of Free Shakespeare in the Park.
Papp's founding principle was that great theatre should be accessible to everyone regardless of means, and the free-ticket model has been maintained ever since. Over the following decades the Delacorte hosted more than 150 productions seen by millions of people, with the giant puppetry, large casts and star performances that became a hallmark of the summer season. The adjacent Public Works programme brings community members on stage alongside professionals.
The Delacorte underwent a major renovation in the mid-2020s, reopening with upgraded facilities while preserving its open-air character and its place at the centre of The Public's summer Shakespeare programming across the city.
Plan Your Visit
Getting There
The Delacorte Theater is mid-park in Central Park near 81st Street, roughly equidistant from the park's east and west sides. The nearest subway stations are 81st Street–Museum of Natural History (B and C lines) on the west, and 77th/86th Street (4 and 6 lines) on the east, each about a 10–15 minute walk into the park. There is no parking; walking or transit is the only practical option.
Opening Hours
Free Shakespeare in the Park runs in the summer months; the Delacorte is an open-air, seasonal venue. Performance days and times vary week to week — check The Public Theater's website for the current calendar before travelling.
Ticket Prices
Tickets to Free Shakespeare in the Park are free. They are distributed by various lottery and in-person channels across all five boroughs; a free Public Theater patron account is generally required. Check The Public Theater's website for current ticket-distribution details and to register in advance.
Accessibility
The Delacorte offers wheelchair-accessible seating and assistive listening; selected performances are audio-described or otherwise supported. Contact The Public Theater's access services in advance to arrange accessible tickets, which have their own distribution process.
What's On
Live listings from Ticketmaster — updated daily.
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