Denzel Washington, Natalie Portman, Meryl Streep and Al Pacino are a few of the megastars who have graced the stage of New York City's summer Shakespearean productions. Along with big name talents, the Public Theater fosters diversity through enlisting non-traditional casting of characters by means of age, race and background. The organization maintains a culture of all-inclusion that serves as the core foundation of the Public Theater's principles. Every performance is handicapped accessible, with optional services for the hearing impaired, including sign language interpretation and captioning.
In line with the Public Theater's efforts to provide an accessible arts experience, tickets for Shakespeare in the Park are available to the public for free with ticket distribution beginning at 1 p.m. for same-day evening performances. The line begins to build outside the Delacorte Theater as early as 6 a.m., especially on weekends, but arriving that early isn't always necessary; tickets can often be obtained when arriving at 8 a.m. or 9 a.m. Seating within the theater is reserved and first-come-first-served, so the closer to the front of the line you are, the closer your seats will be to the stage. Each of the five New York City boroughs are assigned a special day during the summer when the Public Theater hosts a local free ticket line, allowing enhanced accessibility for residents in the outer boroughs.
Line moderators at the Delacorte Theater strictly enforce rules for those waiting for tickets. Specifically, all members of your party must arrive on line at the same time and remain present for the duration of the wait time. Any late joiners will be forced to the end of the line. Ticket-seekers are not permitted to leave the line for an extended period of time, except to use the restrooms located near the theater. Bring a book, iPad or a hobby to help pass the time. Vendors will be on hand to shell out hot dogs, pretzels, ice cream and soda, so pack healthy food for fuel if carnival-type snacks don't satisfy your breakfast needs. Once you have your tickets in hand, feel free to roam Central Park, ride paddle boats, visit the zoo, or picnic in Strawberry Fields. Enjoy an early dinner at the Loeb Central Park Boathouse (thecentralparkboathouse.com) before returning to the Delacorte Theater for the evening performance, generally scheduled to begin at 8:30 p.m.
While the majority of tickets are distributed via the same-day line for free, a limited number of tickets are reserved for corporate sponsors. Individuals may join the sponsorship ranks by donating to the Public Theater's Summer Supporter Program. Individuals who make a contribution of at least $100 will be rewarded with one reserved seat at a summer performance. The donation is 100 percent tax deductible and helps ensure that Shakespeare in the Park can remain a free program for the masses.
