Shakespeare in
the Park is a classic New York City summer tradition! Run by the Public Theater,
every summer two plays or musicals are performed at the open air Delacorte
Theater in Central Park. Typically one the productions is a Shakespeare play.
It is one of my favorite summer activities, since (granted it’s a nice day) you
get to spend the whole day outside!
New Yorkers who
have been doing this for years have got the routine down. You get up early, go
to the Delacorte Theater in Central Park and wait online until midday when the
Public Theater gives out free tickets! It’s essential to be prepared since you
will be waiting a couple of hours. Make sure to bring a comfortable blanket to
sit on, a good book, some music, snacks…the whole shebang. It is also a great
way to get to know your fellow New Yorkers and new people in general, striking
up conversations with people online around you and swapping stories about
favorite city spots. Also be prepared for a lot of passer-byers asking what
you’re waiting online for.
While waiting
online for the tickets is half the fun, the performances themselves are even
better. The actors and actresses put their heart into every production, not to
mention the costumes and set designs are amazing considering the stage is
relatively small.
Some of the most
memorable and my favorite past performances include Hair (2008), Into the Woods
(2012), As You Like It (2012), Love’s Labour’s Lost (2013), and Much Ado About Nothing (2014). This
year’s production is Shakespeare’s The
Tempest, and as expected it was a wonderful production and I would highly
recommend it to a friend!
