Renovated Central Park theater offers free Shakespeare shows

A media tour of the revitalized Delacorte Theater in Central Park was just underway when Sandra Oh, in hard hat and sneakers, walked by. She was beaming. “The seats really are bigger,” said the “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Killing Eve” star, after visiting the stage where she’d soon be performing in “Twelfth Night.” The production reopens the free Shakespeare in the Park series, run by The Public Theater arts organization.

Oh will join a star-studded cast that includes Lupita Nyong’o, Peter Dinklage and Jesse Tyler Ferguson in a fitting return of one of New York City’s most cherished cultural traditions. Free Shakespeare performances date back to 1954, and have been at the Delacorte since 1962, but the program’s been on hiatus for nearly two years. As Oskar Eustis, The Public’s artistic director, explained as the tour set off, the building had been sorely in need of renovations.

When the theater reopens Aug. 7, audiences (along with performers and staff) will find improvements everywhere they turn. As Oh pointed out, the more than 1,800 seats are wider — one to two inches, with a few labeled “bariatric” intended for audience members requiring a little more space (airlines, take note).

Accessibility was a major issue, with the addition of a second ramp and more room for wheelchairs. “We really thought about how we can signal loudly that . . . every single person in this city should be able to participate,” said Patrick Willingham, The Public’s executive director.

For architect Stephen Chu, it was all about giving the theater more of a presence. “It was almost like a pop-up,” he said. “People walking by thought it might be a ballpark.” The theater’s rebuilt facade is constructed from redwood reclaimed from 25 city water towers. For an architect, said Chu, “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience, where theater, culture, community, architecture, and the park and nature all come together harmoniously.”

Even the bathroom has been rethought, with a new roof and, on the women’s side, more space.

While the audience might not notice all the bells and whistles, the improvements will allow quicker turnarounds, meaning a show can run longer and more people will be able to see it, Eustis said. And that has always been the goal.

“The free thing is more important than ever at this moment,” he said. “The utter beauty of the renovation of this palace for the people is there’s no price tag on it. It’s for everyone.”

Twelfth Night runs from Aug. 7 through Sept. 14. Tickets to Shakespeare in the Park are free. They’re available every day of a performance, starting at noon at the theater (as well as distribution sites in the other four boroughs). Every person in line can receive two tickets. An in-person lottery takes place at The Public Theater, 425 Lafayette St., on performance days, and TodayTix.com runs a digital lottery. Visit publictheater.org for more information.