Shakespeare in the Park, New York City’s beloved tradition of free classical theater in Central Park, is returning this summer.
Following last year’s hiatus due to the extensive renovation of the Delacorte Theatre, the series will relaunch with a starry production of “Twelfth Night.” However, “Twelfth Night” is just the centerpiece of a season of free outdoor classical theater in parks across all five boroughs.
Much Ado About Nothing: Now in its 15th year, the Public Theater’s Mobile Unit hits the road once again, bringing Shakespeare to parks and plazas throughout the city, including Astor Place, Bryant Park, Wolfe’s Pond Park, Sunset Park, Travers Park, and St. Mary’s Park. This summer, it’s a brisk, bilingual, 100-minute take on “Much Ado About Nothing,” full of romance, banter, and mistaken identity. May 29 to June 29. publictheater.org.
Julius Caesar: Hudson Classical Theater Company will perform Shakespeare’s tragedy on the death of democracy (which received a notoriously controversial Shakespeare in the Park production in 2017) at the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument in Riverside Park. May 29 to June 22, hudsonclassicaltheatercompany.org.
Richard II: Boomerang Theatre Company returns to Central Park with a gender-flipped take on Shakespeare’s meditative history play “Richard II,” with a woman in the title role. June 21 to July 20, boomerangtheatre.org.
All’s Well That Ends Well: New York Classical Theatre, known for its roving, panoramic stagings, will bring the rarely seen “problem play” to Central Park, Battery Park, and Carl Schurz Park. The bittersweet tale centers on a determined young woman who goes to extreme lengths to win back the man who deserted her. June 3 to July 6, nyclassical.org.
King Lear: Following an indoor run in Fort Greene, Theater 2020 will bring its modern take on “King Lear” to the Brooklyn War Memorial in Cadman Plaza Park for a free outdoor performance. June 29, theater2020.com.
Memnon: As this year’s Uptown Shakespeare in the Park production at Marcus Garvey Park, Classical Theatre of Harlem offers a rare non-Shakespeare entry with “Memnon,” a new epic in the classical tradition by Will Power (“Seize the King”), inspired by the Ethiopian king who fought in the Trojan War. Despite the loss of a $60,000 NEA grant earlier this month, the company is moving ahead with the show. July 5 to 27, cthnyc.org.
The Tempest/Hamlet: Hip to Hip Theatre Company delivers two of Shakespeare’s best-known works with a community-minded twist: each performance includes a free kids’ workshop. The company will tour locations across Queens, in addition to Jersey City and Southampton. Aug. 5 to 23, hiptohip.org.
Twelfth Night: It’ll be hard to top the Public Theater’s 2009 “Twelfth Night,” which featured a dream cast of Anne Hathaway, Audra McDonald, Raúl Esparza, and more. But the new production is certainly aiming high: Peter Dinklage takes on Malvolio, Lupita Nyong’o stars as Viola, Sandra Oh is Olivia, Jesse Tyler Ferguson plays Sir Andrew, with Daphne Rubin-Vega as Maria and Khris Davis as Orsino. Aug. 7 to Sept. 14, publictheater.org.
Pericles: The Public Theater’s community-based Public Works initiative will present “Pericles” (which is partly attributed to Shakespeare) as a concert musical at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. This rarely performed, storm-tossed odyssey will feature a large, diverse cast drawn from all five boroughs. Aug. 29 to Sept. 2, publictheater.org.
