New York Has Some Terrific Free Outdoor Theatre In The Summer of 2016

This is a cool article I'm re-posting of some great things to do under the stars this summer in New York City.  Enjoy.

Get Your Shakespeare Fix

Janet McTeer and Cush Jumbo in rehearsal for the free Shakespeare in the Park production of The Taming of the Shrew (Joan Marcus )

There’s even more reason to celebrate the 400 th anniversary of the Bard’s death this summer: plenty of free, outdoor Shakespeare on offer. Kicking off the season is an all-female staging of The Taming of the Shrew. The Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park returns to Central Park’s Delacorte with the innovative new production starring Janet McTeer, Cush Jumbo, Donna Lynne Champlin and Candy Buckley. With performances now underway, the golden tickets are distributed outside the theatre on the day of the show; or for the first time ever, tickets are available via the TodayTix app. 

The second free outdoor Shakespeare production to be presented at the Delacorte will be Troilus and Cressida, directed by Tony winner Daniel Sullivan, scheduled to begin July 19, running through Aug. 14

New York Classical Theatre joins the celebrations in Central Park May 31 with their staging of A Midsummer Night’s Dream through June 26. You can also catch the show, about mischievous fairy magic and young lovers, in Battery Park until July 2, Prospect Park (July 6-10) and Carl Schurz Park (July 14-17). 

Delacorte Theater (Creative Commons)

Just north of Central Park in Marcus Garvey Park, The Classical Theatre of Harlem presents free performances of Macbeth in the Richard Rodgers Amphitheater, July 8-31. CHT’s unique production will be informed by Ethiopia during the time of Haile Selassie and Emperor of Ethiopia, 1916-1974; and will star Roslyn Ruff and Ty Jones as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. 

Beginning June 8, head over to Brooklyn’s Carroll Park for free performances of The Tempest, presented by the award-winning Smith Street Stage. The family-friendly production sees a woman playing the traditionally male role of Prospero. Through June 26. 

The Drilling Company’s Shakespeare in the Parking Lot returns for its 22 nd year with two summer productions: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (July 7-24) and The Merchant of Venice (July 28-August 14). The free performances take place in the Parking Lot behind The Clemente (Clemente Soto Velez Cultural and Educational Center), located at 114 Norfolk Street in the Lower East Side. 

Megan Hilty (Photo by Monica Simoes)

Get Lost in Shubert Alley 

Spend a truly Broadway afternoon at Stars in the Alley. The free outdoor concert returns to Shubert Alley in Times Square June 3, hosted by Sean Hayes and Mo Rocca. The two-hour event will feature performances from more than 30 shows including The Color Purple, The Phantom of the Opera, Fiddler on the Roof and Wicked.

See a Starry Concert in Queens

The New York Pops return to the Forest Hills Stadium in Queens for a concert starring Broadway favorites Matthew Morrison and Megan Hilty. The family-friendly, open-air event on July 7 will feature a 78-piece orchestra. 

Go on a Scavenger Hunt 

Wander through the streets of lower Manhattan with Accomplice New York, a three-hour show that takes you with it! Up to 11 participants are transported into a theatrical story where The Boss has an important job for them – but are they cut out for a life of crime? Accomplice offers four other interactive theatre experiences including Accomplice The Village, a two-hour tour through one of the city’s most recognizable neighborhoods; Save the Big Apple, a full-day luxury expedition throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn; The Quest for the Seven Teeth, a children’s experience through Central Park; and The Quest for the Missing Slipper, a ladies night out based on the Cinderella fairy tale. 

Catch a Glimpse of Broadway in Bryant Park

Beginning July 7, the most popular shows on and Off-Broadway perform their biggest hits for free on the stage in Bryant Park every Thursday between 12:30 and 1:30 PM. Like you needed another excuse to spend your lunch outdoors? Running through August 11.

I hope you found this post helpful.

Regards
Rich Gladstone
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