Iconic Shakespeare in the Park Costume Worn by James Earl Jones on View at The New York Historical

Theoni V. Aldredge (1922-2011), designer, 1972 Hamlet James Earl Jones Claudius Costume. Image courtesy of The Public Theater.

In celebration of the reopening of The Delacorte Theater in Central Park in August, The Public Theater is highlighting more than 60 years of Free Shakespeare in the Park with a special installation at The New York Historical. On view is the costume worn by longtime Public Theater performer James Earl Jones as Claudius from the 1972 production of Hamlet. This costume is one of many designed by Tony Award-winning costume designer Theoni V. Aldredge. Several of her original costume sketches are also on display.

James Earl Jones’ role as Claudius in the Shakespeare drama marked the actor’s third appearance in a production for Free Shakespeare in the Park. Jones would act in eight such productions, making his trademark baritone voice a pillar of the renowned theatrical program in the 1960s and 70s.

The Public Theater, one of the nation’s first nonprofit theaters, has been producing Free Shakespeare in the Park at The Delacorte Theater since 1962. This August, after 18 months of renovation, the open-air stage will once again welcome visitors to its free Shakespearean productions, a mainstay of New York City’s summer theatrical scene. The installation at The New York Historical is on view from May 16-August 31, 2025.

The New York Historical
170 Central Park West (at 77th Street)
New York, NY 10024
www.nyhistory.org (212) 873-3400

TICKETS
Adults: $24
Seniors/Educators/Active Military: $19
Students: $13
Children (5–13): $6
Children (4 and under): Free
*Pay-as-you-wish Fridays from 5–8 pm 

About The New York Historical
New York’s first museum, The New York Historical is a leading cultural institution covering over 400 years of American history. Our offerings span groundbreaking exhibitions; peerless collections of art, documents, and artifacts; acclaimed educational programs for teachers and students nationwide; and thought-provoking conversations among leading scholars, journalists, and thinkers about the past, present, and future of the American experiment. The New York Historical is a museum of museums and a collection of collections. We are home to the Patricia D. Klingenstein Library, the Center for Women’s History, the DiMenna Children’s History Museum, and the future American LGBTQ+ Museum. We elevate the perspectives and scholarship that define the United States’ democratic heritage and challenge us all to shape our ongoing history for the better. Connect with us at nyhistory.org or at @nyhistory on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Tumblr.