New York City’s Public Theater is set to debut a new production of Twelfth Night at Central Park’s recently revamped Delacorte Theater this August. The theater’s Free Shakespeare in the Park series was paused in 2023 due to building renovations, but they are returning with a star-studded cast and a message about the importance of
free public access to Shakespeare. This year’s sole production will feature Lupita Nyong’o (Black Panther, Us) as Viola, Sandra Oh (Grey’s Anatomy, Killing Eve) as Olivia, Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones, X-Men) as Malvolio, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family, Mid-Century Modern) as Andrew Aguecheek.
The production, directed by Saheem Ali, marks the seventh time Free Shakespeare in the Park has featured Twelfth Night since its first iteration in 1969. Established in 1954, Free Shakespeare in the Park offers an annual summer play completely free of charge, with tickets distributed at various locations throughout the five boroughs. The program has a tradition of casting big names–both for Shakespeare and non-Shakespeare productions–including stars like Michelle Pfeifer, Jeff Goldblum, Julia Stiles, Nikki M. James, Anne Hathaway, and more.
At a time when the cost of living is higher than ever, and New York City consistently makes the lists of least affordable cities, free public theater is a cultural necessity. The recent triumph of mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani—who ran on the promise of making NYC a more affordable place to live—speaks to a growing unrest with wealth disparity and cost of living. Folks have a hard enough time paying rent and affording groceries, let alone finding the disposable income necessary to participate in art and culture. Free public theater creates access for all, regardless of your paycheck. These sacred spaces exemplify what it means to consume art, providing a container for people from all walks of life to come together for a shared cultural experience that prompts not only joy and laughter, but critical thinking. Taking a cue from ancient Greece–the birthplace of democracy–free public theater invites citizens to participate in the democratic process through the exploration of universal themes. Shakespeare’s plays are especially well-equipped for this purpose, all the more so when examined through a modern lens.
Of course, that the production is free doesn’t mean getting tickets will be an easy task. Hopeful theatergoers are expected to begin lining up in Central Park and other NYC distribution centers at dawn on the days of performances to try their hand at snagging a ticket. There is also a digital lottery for those who would rather sit at home and hope that their name is selected.
Luckily, another free public service is available so that anyone who wants to watch the production from home can simply stream the show. PBS has announced that the Public Theater's free Shakespeare in the Park production of Twelfth Night will be broadcast November 14, at 9 PM ET, and will also be available for streaming anytime on PBS.org or through the PBS app.
In mid-July, Congress approved a plan put forth by the Trump administration to cut $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) — stripping all federal support for NPR, PBS and their member stations. PBS gets about 15% of its revenue from federal funding which it uses to produce a wide range of public broadcasting including everything from Free Shakespeare in the Park to the popular Mr. Rogers spinoff, Daniel Tiger. At a time when streaming services are constantly increasing their prices and monopolizing the entertainment industry, PBS is struggling to keep delivering what it has always promised: free access to educational programming, hard-hitting journalism, and the arts.
We hope you will take the time to stream and enjoy this exciting production of Twelfth Night, and that it reinvigorates nationwide support for what Cal Matters calls “the egalitarian mission of public media.”
