Overview

• The Public Theater’s Free Shakespeare in the Park launched Twelfth Night on August 21 at Central Park’s Delacorte Theater, with performances scheduled through mid-September.
• Associate Artistic Director Saheem Ali directs a cast led by Lupita Nyong’o as Viola and her brother Junior Nyong’o as Sebastian, alongside Sandra Oh, Peter Dinklage, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Khris Davis, Daphne Rubin‑Vega, and Moses Sumney.
• Critics note a standout turn from Peter Dinklage as Malvolio and praise the Nyong’o siblings’ chemistry, with overall notices describing a lively, crowd‑pleasing return.
• The Delacorte reopens after an approximately $85 million renovation, with reviewers citing improved accessibility and refreshed facilities that support the free, civic mission.
• Ali’s staging mixes Shakespeare’s text with Swahili passages, new music by Michael Thurber, bold design choices by Maruti Evans and Oana Botez, and a streamlined running time of under two hours without intermission.