Delacorte Theater and Shakespeare in the Park - a long standing New York tradition that dates back to the early 1960s and for most people has been an experience of a lifetime. A summer ritual that showcases stellar performances from Hollywood most seasoned as well as upcoming actors; and the most unique feature of this tradition lies in its accessibility to one and all.
In its five decade history, it has featured many of Hollywood's heavy weights like Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, the Late Philip Seymour Hoffman, Denzel Washington, Al Pacino, Liev Schreiber and many others who have featured in Delacorte's summer time productions and have lit up the stage with their mesmerising performances.
'Shakespeare in the Park is a literal reference to its actual setting and in this case refers to the iconic Central Park in New York City: an open - air stadium set in the middle of Central Park with gorgeous views of the Belvedere Castle, the Turtle Pond under the twilight sky makes for a backdrop like no other. The horse-shoe shaped amphitheater seats nearly 1800 people and encircles the stage to ensure that regardless of where you are seated, the view is excellent, unobstructed and the setting intimate; almost deceptively making you feel like a private audience. Experiences such as these stay with you long after it's over; so here's your chance to immerse yourself in legendary theater and allow us to give you some pointers:
Tickets are available in Central Park itself and begin being distributed around noon for same day performances. The line to avail tickets starts forming much earlier than noon and since 2013, rules only permit two tickets per person: this is largely to ensure that more people have a chance of being part of the audience.
Tickets for the Delacorte Theater are first-come basis, seats are not! Once you have tickets in hand, rest assured they are for reserved seats and you are not required to show up early. If you and your companions wish to to be seated together, it's advisable to line up together as well.
Tickets are non-exchangeable since they are issued for a performance on the same day. Performances may get cancelled due to weather upsets such as heavy rain. However, fret not! If it's just a drizzle or sprinkling of rain, shows carry on and the audience can take along jackets and if seated on top rows, umbrellas.
Separate line for senior citizens is near benches closest to the theater's box office; persons above the age of 65 can avail these tickets since seats allocated will ensure that they have easy access inside the theater. You will be required to produce ID.
Check out performances before reviews as lines might be shorter and you probably have a better chance of getting tickets. Once reviews come out, crowds tend to swell significantly and tickets are much harder to come by.
Try your luck online if you have neither the time nor the patience to stand in line for tickets. You can sign up on the dedicated Shakespeare in the Park website to participate in a ticket lottery of sorts. The number of tickets is however limited and there are no guarantees but you can always try your luck for a few days if your plans are flexible.
Be a Summer Sponsor and make a contribution to Shakespeare in the Park. These contributions are tax deductible and guarantee you a ticket without having to wait in lines or to get lucky in a ticket lottery. The ticket is however priced at $ 175 and is for a single person valid for one performance. Clearly - not an ideal choice for everyone!
Finally - the upcoming 52nd Anniversary of Shakespeare in the Park will feature two of the greatest plays every written; Much Ado About Nothing and King Lear and the recently announced cast lineup includes an impressive array of award wining actors such as John Lithgow, Hamish Linklater, Lily Rabe amongst several others. It would be a real shame to miss out!
