The connection between Shakespeare and nuclear waste might seem tenuous, but Michael J. Sandel, the political philosopher, did his utmost to unite the two at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park on Monday night, assisted by readings given by the likes of Alan Alda, Vanessa Redgrave, Christine Baranski and Matt Damon.

The sold-out event, organized by the Public Theater as part of its Public Forum series, in partnership with the Aspen Institute Arts Program, was titled “What Are We Worth? Shakespeare, Money and Morals.”

It was billed as a town-hall discussion. The audience, in other words, had to pay attention because Professor Sandel, one of Harvard’s star performers, had a raft of questions ready to lob from the stage.