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The 2009 Victoria Secret Fashion ShowBrush Up Your Shakespeare For Free: The No Excuses Guide To Getting Shakespeare In The Park Tickets
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So the Hamptons have the beach, Paris has long walks on the Seine, LA has pristine pools and palm trees…what does New York have to offer in the summer? Shakespeare In The Park, the upside of being stuck in the heat and grime. The current production of Twelfth Night, starring Anne Hathaway, Audra Mcdonald, and Raul Esparza is probably the best you’ll see anytime soon, and even if Shakespeare isn’t usually your cup of English tea, this very accessible comedy is sure to keep you interested and laughing. And did we mention it’s free? Of course, though tickets for this star-studded production come cheap, they definitely don’t come easy. Don’t worry: since we at GofG are ever helpful, we’ve attempted to pre-emptively answer all your questions about the ticket process…
Shakespeare In The Park Tickets: What You Need To Know
- Where Do I Get tickets?
Tickets are given away at 1:00 pm on the day of the performance, at the Delacorte Theater (Mid-park at 80th Street, Southwest Corner of the Great Lawn).
- Cool, so I should get there at like 12:50?
If you stroll up to the ticket booth at 12:50, there is absolutely no way you’re getting a ticket. People are CRAZY…they start to line up for tickets at 5:00 am. Get there at 6:00 am, and you’ll probably get a ticket. Probably.
- Wait, so I have to get in line at 6:00…and wait til 1:00?!
Well…..yeah. Uhm. Bring cards?
- Uhhhh, is this even worth it?
Yes. Shakespeare is good for you. Stop complaining.
- Fine, fine. What else should I bring?
Lawnchair, blanket, umbrella, sunscreen, food, ipod, etc etc…
- Ok, great, so I’ll just pick up tickets for all my friends.
Only if by “all your friends” you mean “my one friend”…only two tickets per person.
- What if I have to go to the bathroom?
Then….you go to a bathroom. But you can’t leave for more then 25 minutes, and YES, the line-monitor DOES check!
- Line monitor?
Yeah. They’re there to check and make sure you don’t save spots or cheat or anything.
- Geez…you’re SURE this is worth it?
Yes! God.
So now you know everything and have no excuse not to catch this amazing, only in New York City opportunity for free world-class theater in the world’s best park. Better act quickly though: Twelfth Night closes on Sunday, July 12th. If you decide to go on Saturday morning, stop over and say hi! We plan on getting there at five….
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Ashley Blair
Ashley Blair
Ashley Blair
Ana Nacvalv...
You can also try the “virtual” line at http://splash.publictheater.org/
Register before noon and then see if you get tickets by checking in between 1-6pm.
July 10, 2009 1:31am
Get there before way five, people. I got tickets on Thursday, and there was already a line snaking up a few blocks by 5 (I was there at 2am — yes, 2 AM). It’s only going to get worse for the last few performances.
If you try to wait in the Park you’ll get moved on by the cops before 6am, so queue up at 81st on Central Park West. Everyone stays pretty much in line when moving into the Park. So get a gang and make it a party (though not an alcoholic party — the line security booted a few people who’d been drinking beer, and they’ve got unlimited power in the ways of free tickets).
That said, the show was fabulous, absolutely worth staying awake all night and then sleeping hobo-style in the Park for most of the morning. The actors are all having fun, Hathaway’s really fantastic, Raoul and Audra and all the rest are just as brilliant, the guy who plays Sir Andrew makes more of that part than I knew possible. The entire show is a total delight, and unlike lots of times I go to see Shakespeare, the way this production runs is somehow new — the line readings, the intent, the whole flow of it. Lines I’d never really noted before suddenly were important and striking. It was amazing.
So yes, it’s going to be a bit of a hassle, but make the most of it. Camp out, bring plastic sheeting and a bedroll and a quilt and food, sleep the morning away, marvel at the security skills of the Delacorte’s own Captain Awesome (civilian name: Zach), and then go home and crash for the few hours between ticketing and showtime. This one is NOT something you want to miss.