“I believe that great art is for everyone—not just the rich or the middle class. When I go into East Harlem or Bedford-Stuyvesant and see the kids who come to see our shows, I see nothing so clearly as myself.”
— Joe Papp
In 1954, Joe Papp founded the New York Shakespeare Festival (a.k.a Free Shakespeare in the Park). His vision was to make the arts accessible to everyone, regardless of race, class or ethnicity. For more than 65 years, Free Shakespeare in the Park has continued to deliver on that vision, delighting over 5 million people since its inception with free performances and being host to some of the foremost acting talents of our time, including Meryl Streep, Raúl Juliá, James Earl Jones, Christopher Walken and many more.
Below we explore the annual summer program’s rich history with photos spanning six decades!
1956: “Taming of the Shrew” before Central Park became home
Before it found its permanent home in Central Park, the New York Shakespeare Festival traveled to all 5 of New York’s boroughs. Pictured is a production of “Taming of the Shrew” at the East River Amphitheater on the Lower East Side in 1956.
1957: The birth of Shakespeare in the Park
From its inception, Free Shakespeare in the Park drew large audiences to its free performances as pictured here near the shore of Belvedere Lake in Central Park in 1957.
Photo by George Joseph © The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
1962: “The Tempest“ in the first year at the Delacorte Theater
In 1962, Free Shakespeare in the Park moved to its forever home, the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. Kathleen Widdoes and Paul Stevens performed in “The Tempest” during the theater’s inaugural season.
Photo by George Joseph © The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
1968: Shakespeare outside at the Delacorte Theater
The New York Shakespeare Festival started as an outdoor performance and at the Delacorte Theater that remains the case. Here audiences are welcomed into the open-air theater in 1968.
Photo by George Joseph © The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
1971: “Two Gentlemen of Verona”
Galt McDermot, the composer of “Hair,” wrote the music for the musical production of “Two Gentlemen of Verona,” pictured here in 1971. The Broadway run of the play ended up winning the Tony for Best Musical in 1972, beating “Grease” and “Follies.”
Photo by George Joseph © The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
1989: “Twelfth Night” in front of a big crowd
The Delacorte Theater has a seating capacity of 1,872. Most of those seats are filled for this production of “Twelfth Night“ in 1989.
Photo by Martha Swope © The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
1991: “Othello”
In addition to his ambition to bring art to the masses, Joe Papp wanted to create a “theater of inclusion,” where the diversity on stage represented that of the public. Free Shakespeare in the Park hews close to that maxim, as can be seen in this production of “Othello” in 1991 starring Raúl Juliá in the titular role.
Photo by Martha Swope © The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
1991: Major talents perform Shakespeare
In that 1991 production of “Othello,” Raúl Juliá was joined on stage by (L – R) Christopher Walken, Kathryn Meisle and Mary Beth Hurt.
Photo by Martha Swope © The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
1993: “All’s Well That Ends Well” on a New York summer night
The founder of the New York Shakespeare Festival, Joe Papp, died in 1991, however the festival has continued. In 1993, audiences enjoyed “All’s Well That Ends Well“ at the Delacorte Theater.
Photo by Martha Swope © The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
2021: “Merry Wives” in our modern day
Free Shakespeare in the Park continues to be a cultural institution, offering audiences free performances every summer. Pictured is a performance of “Merry Wives” in July of 2021.
Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
About the Master
Joe Papp • Theatrical producer and director • Jun 22, 1921 – Oct 31, 1991
