Brian Mayer on WNYC, and yes, it's back after nearly two years of renovations.

The Delacourt Theater in Central Park has reopened just in time for the return of free Shakespeare in the park,

and for its first act, the public theater is staging 12th night, the classic Shakespearean comedy filled with mistaken identities, unrequited love, and all kinds of mischief.

The show opens a newly rebuilt Delacourt with improved accessibility, upgraded lighting and sound, and a refreshed stage.

But the project is also part of a broader conversation.

What does it mean to be public, as in public theater, in today's New York?

Who gets to see, perform in, and direct these stories?

And how do you keep a beloved institution relevant to the city?

It serves as the city changes. Joining us now to talk about all of this is Patrick Willingham,

Executive Director of the Public Theater, and Sahim Ali, Associate Artistic Director of the Public

Theater and Director of the upcoming run of 12th night at the

Delacourt. Patrick and Sahim, welcome to WNYC. Thank you, Brian. As a proud public-facing organization,

we're really happy to be on public radio this morning. Thank you. So Patrick, for anybody who

hasn't been inside the Delacourt yet, what's new?

What will people notice when they walk in? Yeah. Interestingly, Brian, very few people have gotten

to get inside the Delacourt. Yeah, we've done a couple of donor events in the last few days,

but tomorrow will be the very first time that the general public in our audience is going to be in the Delacourt.

One of the things I've been saying over the last several months is the experience of the audience

isn't going to change dramatically once they're in the seating bowl.

There is nothing better than the Shakespeare in the Park experience.

Sitting out under the stars the moons

rising over belvedere castle you've got this fabulous production that seaheim has directed of 12th

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