4 out of 5 stars

It’s no easy feat assembling 100-plus community members and having them tell their stories in a scant 70 minutes – all while speaking to what makes New York City so distinctive. But that’s what the Public Theater has done with “Public Record,” an original work that concludes the Public’s summer run of Central Park shows. This isn’t Shakespeare, but it turns out to be just as enthralling and entertaining as some of those Bard offerings. Credit goes largely to the diverse cast – Black, white, young, old – in all their glorious spirit. They put plenty of big into this Big Apple showcase.

At Central Park’s Delacorte Theater, through Sept. 8, 2026; publictheater.org. (Review date: Sept. 8, 2026)