Latest news with #ThePublicTheater
New York Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Hundreds of NYC theater lovers line up for hours to snag coveted ‘Shakespeare in the Park' tix
As usual, Shakespeare said it best. 'I am to wait, though waiting so be hell.' Hundreds of some of the Bard's biggest fans have been suffering through crazy lines, sweltering heat and exhaustion every day this summer for the slim chance of snatching a coveted ticket for the return of 'Shakespeare in the Park.' More than 400 people swarmed outside the Delacorte Theater in Central Park alone Friday, many beating the sunrise and even the park opening to secure spots for an 8 p.m. performance of 'Twelfth Night' starring Peter Dinklage and Sandra Oh. Advertisement 7 Around 400 people line up outside the Delacorte Theater on Friday to get their hands on 'Shakespeare in the Park' tickets. Robert Miller 'It's worth it,' said Alex Courtney, 38, a welder from Philadelphia, who took the day off work to sink 12 hours in line to grab a pair of tickets for himself and his wife. Courtney secured the very first spot in line by arriving outside Central Park at midnight — a full six hours before the iconic green space even opened to the public. Advertisement A civil line formed behind him until it was allowed to move toward the ticket window at 6 a.m. Courtney's cousin joined him at the front around 2:30 a.m. 'It's a lot of fun, really — waiting out is a part of the experience,' Courtney said. 7 There are three distinct lines for tickets: a general line, a senior line and a disabled persons line. Christopher Sadowski This gigantic line is one of the magic of the actual thing. Peter Dinklage and 'Twelfth Night' is going to be great to see, but waiting out here, there's buskers and people playing music and trying to sell things, which is all a part of the experience. Advertisement 'This is a little group that you kind of create, just the people you meet and talk to,' he said. 'It's a really good way to build a community and to keep Shakespeare alive.' The hundreds of people camped outside the Delacorte have become a common sight this summer — and they mark the return of The Public Theater's iconic Shakespeare in the Park after a two-year hiatus. The section of Central Park where the famous program is held has transformed into the likes of a music festival, with temporary bathrooms erected in the greenspace-turned-waiting area and theater lovers decorating the area with chairs, blankets and even blow-up loungers. The massive crowd was tame Friday, with the campers keeping themselves busy by chatting, reading, eating snacks, playing board games or cards, napping and working remotely. Advertisement 7 Theater lovers have decorated the area with chairs, blankets and even blow-up loungers. Robert Miller Strangers became friends by holding one another's places in line as they used the bathrooms and went on snack excursions — although there is a 20-minute absence limit that is strictly enforced. Only one unruly person tried to jump the line by sneaking into the park before it opened at 6 a.m., but staff quickly sent the rogue to the back of the line. 'Everyone's is very honorable,' said Arthur Night of Brooklyn, who arrived at 5 a.m. for what is his third attempt at grabbing tickets for the 'Twelfth Night' show. 'They're honoring the line rules, no one's cutting, no one's taking anyone's place. 'It's really actually nice. I've waited on the lines before, and you had to fight. 7 Alex Courtney (left) and cousin Peter Shaughnessy are first in line Friday after arriving at midnight for the tickets. Robert Miller 7 Campers keep busy by playing cards, reading, chatting and napping. Robert Miller 7 'The line is part of the experience,' said Arthur Night. Robert Miller Advertisement The event's three separate lines — two of which are dedicated to seniors and disabled patrons — typically stretch so far back that they typically reach a large rock, dubbed the 'rock of lost hope' by would-be theater-goers, several hundred feet from the theater. Around 9 a.m. Friday, theater staff approached the rock and let people know they likely wouldn't get a ticket — but the warning did little to deter the determined campers. 'I'm vibing, I'm waiting, and I hope to get tickets, but I don't expect to get tickets. Not today,' said Eliza Yarbrough-Saxon, 25, a choreographer who recently moved to Manhattan. 7 Shakespeare in the Park is back with a vengeance after taking a two-year hiatus. Robert Miller Advertisement She and her girlfriend, Nikki Deson, 22, hopped in line at 7 a.m., which regular theater-goers warn is much too late to secure a spot. They quickly learned their lesson, saying they would try again Saturday, though they would arrive much earlier. 'I don't have a job yet, so I have nothing going on,' Yarbrough-Saxon said. Bianca Pasternack, 36, brought her pup Pepper along for the wait. She and pal Andrew Vita, 39, hopped in line before 5 a.m. Advertisement 'I don't feel tired, though. I feel excited,' said Vita, who has lined up for Broadway tickets in the past. 'I promised myself I would never do it again, but, you know, I thought with the cast and the reopening of the Delacorte, I was like, this is a good time to line up and get a ticket.' Pasternack added: 'I think it's a fun New York classic activity.'
Time Out
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
First look: Peek inside the newly renovated Delacorte Theater in Central Park
Central Park's newly renovated Delacorte Theater doesn't just look better; it feels better and even smells better. After an 18-month renovation, the beloved venue run by The Public Theater is set open on August 7 for Shakespeare in the Park's free performances of Twelfth Night. We got a sneak peek inside the freshly updated space today. At a ribbon-cutting ceremony, the Public's Oskar Eustis described the Delacorte as "a palace for the people—and the people deserve the best." The renovation focused on improving accessibility and modernizing the space for artists and audiences. Luis Miranda, The Public's board chairman, credited a $42 million investment from local government leaders to help make it possible. Before even stepping foot inside, the theater's new curb appeal is obvious. Beautiful redwood reclaimed from decommissioned NYC water towers across the five boroughs has replaced the former gray siding, offering the added bonus of a fresh aroma. Accessibility was a major priority for the update, and every part of the space is now accessible, from the seating to the light booth to the dressing rooms. Two new gates offer accessibly entry, and the number of ADA seats has more than doubled. Plus, the renovation added additional ramps, lifts, and elevators for artists and crew. A palace for the people—and the people deserve the best "The new Delacorte experience is better for the audience. It's better for the performers, designers, crew, staff, and most importantly, we are now ready for what comes next. We're here for the next generation," said Arielle Tepper, former board chair at The Public. "It is about making sure that everyone feels welcome here at the Delacorte, no matter who they are, where they're from, or if they've never seen live theater before." And theatergoers, women in particular, will be delighted by the newly updated bathrooms. The renovation doubled the amount of restroom facilities for women, solving bottlenecks that existed during intermission. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Public Theater (@publictheaterny) While the renovation is about looking to the future, Eustis took a moment to reflect on the past. He remembered the legacy of Joe Papp, who faced great obstacles to keep his free New York Shakespeare Festival running, eventually evolving into the free Shakespeare in the Park we know today. His conviction, Eustis said, was that "Shakespeare should belong to everybody." He insisted upon casting shows to look like the demographic makeup of the city itself. "The culture belongs to everybody and that to even charge a nickel for it, to put that much of an economic barrier, would be to fundamentally contradict the basic idea of the Shakespeare Festival, which is that the culture is everybody's property," Eustis said. The Delacorte Theater officially opened in Central Park on June 18, 1962, with The Merchant of Venice, directed by Papp and Gladys Vaughan and featuring George C. Scott as Shylock. In the years since, more than 150 productions have been presented for free at The Delacorte, featuring stars such as James Earl Jones (in Othello, 1964), Meryl Streep (The Taming of the Shrew, 1978); Denzel Washington (Richard III in 1990), Anne Hathaway (Twelfth Night, 2009); Al Pacino (The Merchant of Venice, 2010); and many more. Though theatrical performances won't begin for a few weeks, the audience at today's ribbon cutting was treated to Shakespeare readings by Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Peter Dinklage, Lupita Nyong'o, and Sandra Oh—all of whom will perform in this year's showing of Twelfth Night. This year's free series runs from August 7 through September 14. New York City's Comptroller Brad Lander was so inspired by the Shakespeare spirit, he recited a sonnet he wrote for the occasion. As he read: "What a time to reopen this stage with enemies of culture on the prowl, pitting fear and faux populist rage against empathy and attack most foul. Our tyrant locks up immigrants, comptrollers too, and sows chaos, no matter the cost. So what's a public theater to do to ensure that our democracy is not lost? Happily, one answer is right here in new seats and stage for all New York to see, our hearts and our democracy restored through Shakespeare that uplifts us all for free."
Scotsman
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Tony Awards 2025: Original Broadway cast of Hamilton to perform
Lin-Manuel Miranda's pop culture titan, Hamilton!, is set for an original Broadway cast performance at this year's Tony Awards Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The record-breaking musical Hamilton! is set to see the original Broadway cast reunite next month. Over a dozen of the original cast will perform as part of the 78th Tony Awards, taking place on June 8 2025. Here's the full list of nominees ahead of this year's ceremony, how to watch in the UK and a look if anyone could earn a EGOT this year. The original Broadway cast of the smash-hit historical musical, Hamitlon! , will be reuniting for a one off performance at this year's Tony Awards on June 8 2025. Billboard reports that over two dozen of the performers involved in the multi-award winning production, written by Lin-Manuel Miranda , in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the production, which received a record breaking 16 nominations at the 2016 Tony Awards, walking away with 11 - falling one win short of equalling The Producer's record of 12 wins . Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The musical, which has become a staple of popular culture since its debut Off-Broadway at The Public Theater in New York City on February 17, 2015 before transferring to Off-Broadway at The Public Theater in New York City on February 17, 2015, has also earned awards away from the theatrical world. The cast won a Grammy for Best Music Show album and became the first original cast album to be certified Diamond by the RIAA on June 26, 2023 . The original Broadway cast of the smash-hit musical, Hamilton!, will be reuniting to celebrate its 10th anniversary at this year's Tony Awards ceremony. |In April 2025, it made history again by logging an astonishing 500 weeks on the Billboard 200, a chart where it currently remains in its 504th week, holding the No. 35 spot - not before cementing its cultural significance, the album was inducted into the prestigious National Recording Registry this year, in its very first year of eligibility, a recognition granted to albums a decade after their release. The performance is set to be just one of the many highlights from this year's ceremony, taking place at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City, which is hosted this year by Wicked actress, Tony, Emmy, and Grammy Award-winner and three-time Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Could anyone earn an 'EGOT' at this year's Tony Awards? Among the provided Tony Awards nominees, Audra McDonald stands out as being the closest to achieving this rare feat; already one of the most decorated performers in Tony history with six wins, she also boasts two Grammy Awards and one Emmy Award, needing only an Oscar to complete her EGOT . While other nominees like George Clooney (who has two Oscars and a Daytime Emmy) and Darren Criss (with a Primetime Emmy) would move a step closer to EGOT status with a Tony win, they would still require additional awards in other categories. Similarly, Jonathan Groff has a Grammy but would still need an Emmy and an Oscar. Tony Awards 2025 - full list of nominees Here are the nominees for this year's Tony Awards: Best New Musical Buena Vista Social Club Dead Outlaw Death Becomes Her Maybe Happy Ending Operation Mincemeat Best New Play English The Hills of California John Proctor Is the Villain Oh, Mary! Purpose Best Musical Revival Floyd Collins Gypsy Pirates! The Penzance Musical Sunset Boulevard Best Play Revival Tom Holland's revival of Romeo + Juliet has been nominated for Best Play Revival at the 78th Tony Awards | KláraEureka Day Our Town Romeo + Juliet Yellow Face Best Leading Actress in a Play Laura Donnelly - The Hills of California Mia Farrow - The Roommate LaTanya Richardson Jackson - Purpose Sadie Sink - John Proctor Is the Villain Sarah Snook - The Picture of Dorian Gray Best Leading Actor in a Play George Clooney - Good Night, and Good Luck Cole Escola - Oh, Mary! Jon Michael Hill - Purpose Daniel Dae Kim - Yellow Face Harry Lennix - Purpose Louis McCartney - Stranger Things: The First Shadow Best Leading Actress in a Musical Jasmine Amy Rogers - Boop! Megan Hilty - Death Becomes Her Audra McDonald - Gypsy Nicole Scherzinger - Sunset Boulevard Jennifer Simard - Death Becomes Her Best Leading Actor in a Musical Darren Criss - Maybe Happy Ending Andrew Durand - Dead Outlaw Tom Francis - Sunset Boulevard Jonathan Groff - Just in Time Jeremy Jordan - Floyd Collins James Monroe Iglehart - A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical Best Direction of a Musical Saheem Ali - Buena Vista Social Club Michael Arden - Maybe Happy Ending David Cromer - Dead Outlaw Christopher Gattelli - Death Becomes Her Jamie Lloyd - Sunset Boulevard Best Direction of a Play Knud Adams - English Sam Mendes - The Hills of California Sam Pinkleton - Oh, Mary! Danya Taymor - John Proctor Is the Villain Kip Williams - The Picture of Dorian Gray Best Featured Actress in a Play Tala Ashe - EnglishJessica Hecht - Eureka Day Marjan Neshat - English Fina Strazza - John Proctor Is the Villain Kara Young - Purpose Best Featured Actor in a Play Glenn Davis - Purpose Gabriel Ebert - John Proctor Is the Villain Francis Jue - Yellow Face Bob Odenkirk - Glengarry Glen Ross Conrad Ricamora - Oh, Mary! Best Featured Actress in a Musical Natalie Venetia Belcon - Buena Vista Social Club Julia Knitel - Dead Outlaw Gracie Lawrence - Just in Time Justina Machado - Real Women Have Curves Joy Woods - Gypsy Best Featured Actor in a Musical Brooks Ashmanskas - Smash Jeb Brown - Dead Outlaw Danny Burstein - Gypsy Jak Malone - Operation Mincemeat Taylor Trensch - Floyd Collins Best Book of a Musical Buena Vista Social Club Dead Outlaw Death Becomes Her Maybe Happy Ending Operation Mincemeat Best Scenic Design of a Play Marsha Ginsberg - English Rob Howell - The Hills of California Marg Horwell and David Bergman - The Picture of Dorian Gray Miriam Buether and 59 - Stranger Things: The First Shadow Scott Pask - Good Night, and Good Luck Best Scenic Design of a Musical Rachel Hauck - Swept Away Dane Laffrey and George Reeve - Maybe Happy Ending Arnulfo Maldonado - Buena Vista Social Club Derek McLane - Death Becomes Her Derek McLane - Just in Time Best Lighting Design of a Play Natasha Chivers - The Hills of California Jon Clark - Stranger Things: The First Shadow Heather Gilbert and David Bengali - Good Night, and Good Luck Natasha Katz and Hannah Wasileski - John Proctor Is the Villain Nick Schlieper - The Picture of Dorian Gray Best Costume Design of a Play Brenda Abbandandolo - Good Night, and Good Luck Marg Horwell - The Picture of Dorian Gray Rob Howell - The Hills of California Holly Pierson - Oh, Mary! Brigitte Reiffenstuel - Stranger Things: The First Shadow Best Choreography Joshua Bergasse - Smash Camille A. Brown - Gypsy Christopher Gattelli - Death Becomes Her Jerry Mitchell - Boop! Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck - Buena Vista Social Club Best Orchestrations Andrew Resnick and Michael Thurber - Just in Time Will Aronson - Maybe Happy Ending Bruce Coughlin - Floyd Collins Marco Paguia - Buena Vista Social Club David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber - Sunset Boulevard Best Sound Design of a Play Paul Arditti - Stranger Things: The First Shadow Palmer Hefferan - John Proctor Is the Villain Daniel Kluger - Good Night, and Good Luck Nick Powell - The Hills of California Clemence Williams - The Picture of Dorian Gray Best Original Score Dead Outlaw - David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna Death Becomes Her - Julia Mattison and Noel Carey Maybe Happy Ending - Will Aronson and Hue Park Operation Mincemeat - David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts Real Women Have Curves - Joy Huerta and Benjamin Velez Best Costume Design of a Musical Dede Ayite - Buena Vista Social Club Gregg Barnes - Boop! Clint Ramos - Maybe Happy Ending Paul Tazewell - Death Becomes Her Catherine Zuber - Just in Time Best Lighting Design of a Musical Jack Knowles - Sunset Boulevard Tyler Micoleau - Buena Vista Social Club Scott Zielinski and Ruey Horng Sun - Floyd Collins Ben Stanton - Maybe Happy Ending Justin Townsend - Death Becomes Her Best Sound Design of a Musical Jonathan Deans - Buena Vista Social Club Adam Fisher - Sunset Boulevard Peter Hylenski - Just in Time Peter Hylenski - Maybe Happy Ending Dan Moses Schreier - Floyd Collins Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award: Celia Keenan-Bolger Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement: Harvey Fierstein Will the Tony Awards screen in the United Kingdom in 2025? Currently, the 78th Tony Awards are set to screen live on CBS and Paramount+ from 1am BST on June 9 2025, with on-demand repeats available on Paramount+ shortly after its broadcast. Do you have an event you'd like to share with us? You can now promote your What's On stories to us online via YourWorld at It's free to use and, once checked, your story will appear on our website and, space allowing, in our newspapers.
Forbes
22-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Loss And Laughter Collide In Abe Koogler's ‘Deep Blue Sound'
Maryann Plunkett and Mia Katigbak in Clubbed Thumb's 'Deep Blue Sound' 'Lately my plays have been about how fragile the world is, and what it feels like when something you love disappears,' says playwright Abe Koogler. That sense of loss—whether it's the vanishing of an orca pod, a failing relationship, or the slow erosion of community—permeates the wise, funny and heartfelt Deep Blue Sound, now playing at The Public Theater's Shiva Theater. Premiering at Clubbed Thumb's Summerworks festival in 2023, the play—largely comprised of intersecting vignettes, with shades of Our Town—follows a small island community navigating both personal and environmental upheaval. For Koogler, the story is deeply personal. 'I grew up on a small island in the Pacific Northwest, filled with unusual characters and a lot of natural beauty: the water, the woods, the wild animals,' he recalls. 'When we took the ferry boat to Seattle, it would often slow down so as not to disturb the orcas.' While the environmental crisis looms over the play, its characters are equally preoccupied with their own lives. 'They're wondering what their lives mean or have meant,' he says. Though the script has remained largely unchanged since its debut, the production has evolved. 'Some plays come out pretty much fully formed; this was one of those plays,' Koogler says. But the move to The Public has allowed for a richer visual experience. 'There is more weather now, more presence of the natural world. The world of the play has expanded to fill the larger space, while remaining intimate scene to scene.' One of the play's most poignant storylines follows Ella, a woman facing a terminal illness and preparing herself for assisted suicide via the Death with Dignity Act. Koogler approached the subject with nuance and restraint. 'Having known people who made use of assisted suicide to end their lives, I know that it's an emotionally complicated time,' he says. 'There can be a lot of happiness, anger, surreal and absurd moments, fear, connection—it's just as complicated as the rest of life.' Tony Award winner Maryann Plunkett reprises her Obie-winning role as Ella. Koogler calls her 'one of the greats.' 'She is incredibly honest onstage. You never feel like she's acting,' he says. 'She is also so, so funny. And it's incredible to watch how she works on her performance, never settling, always finding new colors and new depths.' Despite the play's weighty themes, humor remains essential: an ineffective mayor (Crystal Finn) and a mysterious, chainsaw-wielding figure (Ryan King) offering side-splitting moments. 'Plays need to be funny first, before they're anything else,' Koogler insists. His previous play, Staff Meal, which ran at Playwrights Horizons, explored similar themes of change and uncertainty, centering on characters also grappling with the loss of something they love. 'In Staff Meal that thing was a restaurant; in Deep Blue Sound it's the whales,' he explains. 'The people in my plays feel upset about the way the world is changing: they can see it happening, and they don't know what to do about it. I think everyone can identify with that confusion and sense of loss in our world right now. 'Like all of my plays, it's about lonely people struggling to connect, My characters are always trying to find their place within larger systems—political, economic, ecological—that are operating in ways they cannot understand.'
