Helicopters Disrupt Shakespeare In The Park: Pols, Theater Say

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A group of New York City congressional representatives pleaded with the FAA to demanding temporary flight restrictions over Central Park.

CENTRAL PARK, NY — A group of New York City's congressional delegation is asking federal officials to put a stop to overnight helicopter traffic near Central Park in an effort to cut down on disruptions of Shakespeare in The Park performances at the Delacorte Theater.

A group of Democratic congress members led by Rep. Jerrold Nadler sent a letter to Federal Aviation Administration Acting Administrator Daniel K. Elwell asking for temporary flight restrictions during Shakespeare in the Park performances. The congress members claimed that helicopter activity near the Delacorte Theater "has steadily gotten worse" in the past months and years.

"Every evening the constant noise generated from hovering and flying helicopters over the Delacorte Theater has interrupted the performance of the Shakespeare in the Park shows, and disrupted what is a cherished New York City summer tradition," Nadler said in a statement.

Actors who starred in this summer's production of "Othello" thanked the politicians for the request, and said that helicopter noise prevents them from connecting with their audiences.

"When a helicopter passes overhead at the Delacorte it not only obscures that language— it obliterates the delicate connection the audience has with the play," actor Corey Stoll said in a statement.

Nadler also held a press conference with The Public Theater's Artistic Director Oskar Eustis on Friday to demand the temporary flight restrictions. In emails from 20014, Eustis asked actor-turned-governor candidate Cynthia Nixon to ask Mayor Bill de Blasio to do something about helicopters disrupting shows.

"Dearest Cynthia, If you have a chance to mention to the Mayor the PLAGUE of helicopters at the Delacorte, I'd appreciate it,” Eustis wrote Nixon in emails acquired by the Daily News. "There's apparently a new, ‘uber’ like helicopter service and it is DESTROYING King Lear."

The mayor wrote back saying he would get Nixon "an answer ASAP" and later chief-of-staff Peter Hatch wrote to Nixon that he'd directed groups such as the Laguardia Airport control tower to divert flights from the park on nights of Shakespeare in the Park performances, the Daily news reported.

The 2018 season of Shakespeare in the Park began on May 29 and will end on Aug. 19. The two shows produced by The Public Theater this season are "Othello" and "Twelfth Night."

Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images