Delacorte Theater, located at mid-Park and 80th Street, is home to the Public Theater and the Shakespeare Festival.
Every summer, the Public Theater offers open-air performances of Shakespeare plays free of charge. The only catch is that there is always a long wait for tickets. Tickets are distributed at 1 pm on the day of the performance. The line starts to form several hours before then.
The theater was originally built in 1962. Ambiance is very unique with the City sky above, lights reflected in Turtle Pond and the magical Belvedere Castle.
Two bronze statues decorate the entrance to the Delacorte Theater - the Tempest and Romeo and Juliet. The Tempest by Milton Hebald was placed in the Park in 1966. The bronze statue on granite pedestal depicts Prospero, the magician, sheltering his daughter Miranda with one hand and casting a spell with the other. The Romeo and Juliet statue, also by Milton Hebald, was added to the Park in 1977. The sculpture shows Juliet in Romeo's arms.
For information about Shakespeare in Central Park summer performance schedules, visit www.publictheater.org.
The adjacent Shakespeare Garden is a beautiful place with uniquely shaped benches and flowers inspired by the plays.
