Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
does as well, furthering the sense of an unfolding story. A second Shakespearean series runs downtown, with
Castle Clinton and the World Financial Center as backdrops. No tickets or reservations are required; check the
website for showtimes.
Central Park.
212/252-4531.
www.newyorkclassical.org
.
Subway: B/C to 103rd St. Battery Park. Subway: 4/5 to Bowling
Green; R to Whitehall; 1 to South Ferry. World Financial Center. Subway: E to World Trade Center; R to Cortlandt St.
Shakespeare in the Park
Shh! Top secret! No one else knows about this amazing cultural giveaway. Every
summer a William Shakespeare play and a non-Shakespeare production, sometimes a musical, is performed in a
gorgeous open-air theater in the center of enchanted Central Park. Just show up a couple of minutes before show-
time and whisper the password “Birnam Wood.” Oh, were it that easy. Some 90,000 people attend the Public
Theater/Delacorte Theater's productions every summer, and it's the worst-kept free secret in the city. It takes a
lot to justify an hours-long Soviet-style wait for a lousy two-ticket ration, but Joseph Papp's Public Theater rarely
comes up short. Design, direction, and acting (often featuring A-list stars) are all world-class. The productions
vary from faithful classical interpretations to avant-garde reimaginings. In summer, 1,800-some seats are given
out at the Delacorte in Central Park. You'll need some determination for your free Will, as people start lining up
2 or 3 hours early for the 1pm giveaways. For a hot show, you'll find bodies outside the Delacorte before 8am
(in some cases, folks will wait overnight). Just treat the ticket queue, with its natural camaraderie, as part of the
experience. If you like your luck, you can vie for tickets from the convenience of a computer. The Virtual Ticket-
ing system (
www.shakespeareinthepark.org
) is a lottery, but with a little persistence you can nab a pair of free
seats—I've managed to score in recent years. Iffy weather or a panned production will up your odds of getting a
ticket. The Public's ticket distribution also goes on the road to Harlem and the four outer boroughs, usually one
visit per location per play. Check the Shakespeare in the Park website for the dates.
The season runs June through August and features one or two plays. (In 2012, theatergoers got to see
Shakespeare's
AsYouLikeIt,
and an eagerly awaited revival of the musical
IntotheWoods.
)
Delacorte Theater, Belvedere
Castle, near 79th St. and West Dr.
212/539-8750.
www.publictheater.org
. Subway: B/C to 81st St.
Shakespeare in the Park(ing) Lot
Central Park is classy and well groomed, with lush grass and trees
softening the hard edges of the city. The municipal parking lot on Ludlow Street has none of these charms, but
the graffiti-slathered asphalt patch can compete in the realm of Tudor drama. The troupe Drilling CompaNY
puts on Shakespeare every summer, with a wealth of energy and wit to make up for the lack of big-name casts
and big-budget backdrops. It's a wonderfully surreal scene, with sword fights and intrigue in the foreground
while befuddled neighbors cut through the parking spaces in back. Seating is first-come, first-served, or bring
your own (padding is a must, as that pavement gets hard when you've been parked for a while). There are two
plays per summer over 6 weekends (Thurs-Sat) in July and August at 8pm.
Parking is available, and
it's very convenient.
Ludlow St., btw. Broome and Delancey sts.
212/873-9050.
www.drillingcompany.org
. Subway: F to Delancey St.; J/M/Z to Essex
St.
Smith Street Stage
Smith Street is both friend and foe to this crack troupe, providing space for
Shakespearean flights, and also injecting a little distraction in the form of truck and motorcycle background
noise. This company knows how to make the most of its environs, integrating itself into Carroll Park. Runs are
usually 2 weeks (Wed nights excepted) in late June and early July. BYO seating is encouraged.
Carroll Park, Smith St. btw.
Carroll and President sts., Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.
www.smithstreetstage.org
.
Subway: F/G to Carroll St.
More Alfresco Theater
Circus Amok
Amok rakes muck as it entertains, combining activist sentiments with traditional circus
arts. Acrobats, jugglers, and a bearded woman are among the draws. The Circus Amok band often trolls through
neighborhoods, gathering an audience for shows performed in local parks. Look for some two dozen shows
spread out across the month of September. (Earlier in the year, look for the free programs Works-in-Progress and
Circus Sundays, in Williamsburg.)
646/413-0487.
www.circusamok.org
.
The Classical Theatre of Harlem
This decade-old troupe brings the classics to audiences that aren't ex-
actly inundated with
The Cherry Orchard
or
Waiting for Godot.
They also stretch the definition of classic, as in
'08's production of Melvin Van Peebles's musical
Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death.
In late July and early
August, there are free outdoor performances, with Shakespeare making the rotation. Locations vary; check
the website. No tickets or reservations are necessary; shows are mostly Friday and Saturday nights, check
