TWELFTH NIGHT - Shakespeare in the Park 2025

Mischief, mayhem and laughs abound in the newly launched and greatly anticipated still free Shakespeare in the Park production at the Public Theater’s Delacorte stage in Central Park. After 85 million dollars, and an eighteen month hiatus while the Delacorte was being renovated, the long awaited reopening of the park’s Theater has arrived. The theater is more beautiful, sustainable and accessible than ever. The most noticeable changes being the gigantic stage, additional seating and the smell of Redwood trees. No, they didn’t ship in giant trees from California, but they did use reclaimed Redwood trees for the paneled perimeter along the seats and aisle ways.
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Under the leadership of the Public’s artistic director, Oskar Eustis, the company decided to kick things off with a bang in the form of one of the Bard’s most beloved and familiar comedies, “Twelfth Night.” The production, under the stars features a star-studded cast, including Sandra Oh (Olivia), Lupita Nyong'o (Viola), Peter Dinklage (Malvolio), and Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Andrew), just to name a few.“Twelfth Night” is the beloved Shakespeare romp portraying a timeless story of unrequited love and gender bending characters. Twins Sebastian and Viola who are all the family they have, are separated by a shipwreck. They survive it, as well as revenge plots, and the trick doors of love. Arriving in Illyria first, Viola creates a false sense of self, hiding her gender in order to maintain life in a foreign land- a timeless immigrant story of surviving and thriving. Eventually, Sebastian will make his way too to Illyria and reunite with his sister, but not before both are swept up in the unintentional mayhem of mistaken identity and romance. How great that the twins are played by Lupita Nyong’o and her real-life brother, Junior. Of course, Viola/Lupita has the heftier role, off and on stage from the opening sequence to the close, sparring throughout with Olivia, Antonio, Andrew A and Malvolio.

This 2025 rendition of “Twelfth Night” directed by Shaheem Ali takes you pleasantly by surprise with its unabashed modern flare. Actors maintain the original script and old English vernacular, but incorporate some contemporary expressions, mannerisms and tunes. The set design is as minimal as it is modern, with gigantic lettering lining the back of the stage (“What You Will”), a hot tub that occasionally emerges from the stage flooring, and a decorative canopy that reminds one of an exclusive seating area of a night club. Likewise and for the most part, the production clothing aesthetic is pure 21st century, combining common folk street wear and upper class after-five attire and suits. That said, the fashion takes a dramatic turn and ups the ante for the show’s finale, as does the overall theatrical energy. This is an unexpected curtain call that gets the audience on its feet, sparking joy and awareness as you head out into the late night commute back home.

Given the current political and social climate, in addition to the actual intense climate (heatwave) of this summer along the East Coast and in NYC specifically, it’s no wonder the Public decided to celebrate its face lift and its return with something light-hearted and entertaining. “Twelfth Night” is pure Shakespearean escapism, and with an exceptional and wonderfully diverse cast. Normally, with all star ensemble cast such as this, stand outs don’t stand out necessarily, but Oh, Dinklage and Ferguson shine in their comic lanes. They, along with the only singer, Moses Sumney as Feste, and the grand finale number, make the play worth the price of admission. In this case, yes, it’s FREE but it will cost theater goers a lot of time and effort as the free admission comes at the price of queuing up/sitting in the park for hours before tickets are distributed 9two tickets per person) at 1:00 pm. For this production, this cast, this unveiling of the new and improved theater, word is folks start lining up as early as 5:00 am.

Get in line soon as this is a limited run production now through September 13th. Learn more about the revitalization here, and for more information about The Public’s annual summer celebration of Shakespeare for the City. Free. For All. Forever, go here.