Things to do nearDelacorte Theater

The Delacorte Theater opened in 1962, a gift from publisher George Delacorte to the people of New York. It was built to house the Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park festival, which producer Joseph Papp had been staging in the park since the late 1950s. The amphitheater seats roughly 1,800 people and was designed so that every ticket is free, making it one of the few remaining venues where world-class theater is genuinely accessible to all.

The stage itself faces Turtle Pond, with Belvedere Castle providing an unscripted backdrop that no set designer could improve upon. Productions here have launched careers and drawn performers of the highest caliber, from Meryl Streep to Denzel Washington, all performing for audiences seated on the gentle slope of the Great Lawn.

Beyond the performances, the surrounding landscape rewards exploration. The woodsy paths of The Ramble lie just to the south, offering a tranquil walk before or after the show. The Delacorte Theater is worth visiting not only for the theater itself but for the rare sense of community it creates, drawing New Yorkers of every background together on a summer night.