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When William Shakespeare penned all 38 of his plays, people were dressing a bit differently than they do now, to say the least. In order to capture the complete essence of what The Bard was going for, costumes are an integral part of the puzzle that is a production.
A collection of the costumes featured in Shakespearean performances at The Delacorte Theater or Public Theater over the theater institution's 60+ year history are on view in a free exhibit through August 31 at the Shiva Theater in Manhattan's Noho neighborhood.
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Expect to see costumes worn by legendary performers such as Meryl Streep, Raul Julia, Al Pacino, Patrick Stewart, Viola Davis, Angela Bassett, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jeff Goldblum, Vanessa Redgrave, Danny DeVito, Allison Janney and more.
The intricately designed costumes have been cut, stitched, dyed, beaded and altered to their respective actors for the 63 years since Shakespeare in the Park began. With the fine netting of tulle, the hard exterior of metal and expert embroidery, these costumes become more complex the more you stare. So, make sure to look, but don't touch.
This exhibit was curated by former Director of Costumes Luke McDonough with assistance from current Director of Costumes Vanessa Watters and Associate Director Melinda Basaca.
To plan your visit, opening times are: Tuesday-Sunday: 11am-2pm and 5-8pm. Heads up that the exhibit will be closed on Thursday, August 21.
After admiring the ornate costumes, be sure to check out the actual Shakespeare in the Park production of Twelfth Night starring Peter Dinklage, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Lupita Nyong’o and Sandra Oh. This year's free series runs through September 14. While it's free to attend, ready your patience for the ticket-acquisition process. Here's how to get tickets.
This year's Shakespeare in the Park will take place inside the newly updated Delacorte Theater. It first 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.