American actor Peter Dinklage arrives at the Los Angeles Premiere Of Lions Gate Films' 'The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes' held at the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX on November 13, 2023 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency)
The Public Theatre has announced a stellar lineup for the much-anticipated return of Free Shakespeare in the Park in 2025. The newly refurbished Delacorte Theater in Central Park will reopen with a star-studded production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, featuring Peter Dinklage, Lupita Nyong’o, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and Sandra Oh.
Dates and ticketing details are yet to be announced, but Twelfth Night is set to be the sole 2025 offering due to the ongoing renovation schedule of the Delacorte. Directed by Public Associate Artistic Director Saheem Ali, the production will see Dinklage as Malvolio, Ferguson as Andrew Aguecheek, Nyong’o as Viola, and Oh as Olivia. Additional casting and creative team members will be revealed in due course.
The Delacorte Theater, which closed for renovations after the 2023 season, has undergone extensive improvements. The project, a collaboration between The Public, the Central Park Conservancy, and the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, aims to enhance accessibility, streamline backstage operations, and upgrade the exterior and lighting. Visitors can also look forward to newly renovated bathrooms and other modern amenities.
This will mark the seventh time Twelfth Night has been presented as part of the Free Shakespeare in the Park series, with previous productions staged in 1969, 1986, 1989, 2002, 2009, and a musical adaptation in 2018 by Kwame Kwei-Armah and Shaina Taub.
“Twelfth Night is the epitome of joy,” Ali said in a statement. “It also happens to be the first production I ever saw at the Delacorte, as a college student taking the Chinatown bus from Boston. I’m delighted to be reuniting with my dear friend Lupita Nyong’o, joined by fellow Public Theater alums Peter Dinklage, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and Sandra Oh. Shakespeare in the Park is a gift to our city. I’m honored to be helming this production as we reopen The Delacorte after an extensive and essential revitalization.”
Since its inception in 1954, Free Shakespeare in the Park has provided New Yorkers with free, high-quality theatre every summer. Tickets are usually distributed at various locations throughout NYC, making the magic of Shakespeare accessible to all. Over the years, the program has attracted A-list actors, bringing to life not only Shakespearean classics but also other notable works such as Into the Woods, Hercules, and Hair. Past productions of Twelfth Night have featured performances from renowned actors including Jeff Goldblum, Anne Hathaway, Nikki M. James, Hamish Linklater, Audra McDonald, Michelle Pfeiffer, Fisher Stevens, Julia Stiles, and Michael Stuhlbarg.
The 2025 revival of Twelfth Night promises to be a memorable celebration of theatre, community, and the enduring legacy of Shakespeare in the heart of New York City.
Photo Credit: DepositPhotos.com
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