Five Summer Theater Picks

by | Jul 6, 2017 | Culture, Theater

Photo courtesy of Central Park NYC

Oodles of events are competing for your attention this summer in NYC. With temperatures rising, entertainment options are heating up. Sports fans have plenty to keep them busy with the Yankees settling in for a home residence, but if you prefer air conditioning and plush seating to blazing sun and home runs, maybe the theater is the place for you this summer. We’ve rounded up five theatrical experiences in NYC this week that are sure to delight and entertain. Here are our picks:

“Hamlet”

Downtown’s own The Public Theater is presenting this stirring production of the Shakespeare classic until September 3, making it a summer staple. Oscar Isaac, of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” fame, stars in this thrilling tragedy. Don’t miss the unforgettable characters and monologues in this new spin on “Hamlet.” Tickets available here.

Through September 3. Times available on The Public Theater site.
425 Lafayette St. 

“Sleep No More”

It’s never too late to experience this long-running show, a beloved interactive performance in Chelsea at the McKittrick Hotel. Harrowed as “spectacular” by the New York Times, the show brings the audience face-to-face with the “residents” as they move from room to room at their own pace. It’s eerie and dark, but promises to be an interactive experience like no other. Tickets available here.

Dates and times vary and are visible on the site
530 West 27th St. 

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream”

It’s midsummer in New York City, and that means it’s time for the ever-popular Shakespeare in the Park. Running at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park from July 11 to August 13 is the famous Shakespeare comedy “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The beautiful outdoor space is already magical and is being transformed into a mystical forest for this production. Tickets available here.

July 11 to August 13
Mid Central Park at 80th St., on the southwest corner of the Great Lawn

“Measure for Measure” 

Make your way to Brooklyn for a fresh and entertaining take on another dark Shakespeare comedy, “Measure for Measure.” Time Out New York gave this production, directed by Simon Godwin, four out of five stars. This haunting story of justice is worth the trip across the river. Tickets available here.

Through July 16. Schedule available here
262 Ashland Place, Brooklyn

“Groundhog Day”

You can’t talk about theater in New York without mentioning Broadway, so here’s the obligatory mention of a Broadway blockbuster. “Groundhog Day” is the reimagined musical version of the classic Bill Murray and Andie McDowell film from 1993, and the story is just as funny and fresh as it was then. The cast is fresh off their first Broadway in Bryant Park performance, and they’re pleasing audiences nightly at the August Wilson Theatre. The tunes are catchy and the characters lovable. Tickets available here.

Schedule available here
245 West 52nd St. 

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