The Public Theater, Producer Mark Russell, and The Association of Performing Arts Presenters kick off the Under The Radar Festival today.  The 12-day event tracks new, edgy, experimental theater from all over the world with selections from places like Belarus, South Africa, France, and even Latvia. While every show looks interesting, there are a few we definitely want to check out. More»

Ny Mag asked Josh Lucas if he's ever acted outdoors at this year's Public Theater's Annual Gala held at the Delacorte Theater last week. The gala celebrated the free Shakespeare in the Park presentation of the Merchant of Venice. However, Lucas isn't the only one getting harrassed by the downtrodden over Shakespeare... if you would like to take advantage of free stuff in New York like the Merchant of Venice in Central Park, prepare yourself to wait in line a day or two before curtain call with New York's finest vagabonds.

[Photo via flickster.com]

Hollywood superstars often hope to bolster their credibility with dramatic thee-ate-er turns on Broadway. This fall, the Great White Way has glowed exceptionally bright with the megawatt smiles of Jude Law ("Hamlet"), Sienna Miller, Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig ("A Steady Rain"). In typically offbeat fashion, Willem Dafoe has entered the fray with a role in "Idiot Savant", a bolder, if less accessible, production playing off-Broadway at the venerable Public Theater. More»

[All photos by BEN GABBE for PMc]. Maggie Gyllenhaal, Daniel Craig, and the Broadway Cast of Hair (left) were a few of the audience members at last night's "Courage In Concert", a one-night evening of songs from the Public Theater's 2006 Shakespeare In The Park production of Mother Courage And Her Children, starring Meryl Streep and Kevin Kline, and written by Tony Kushner. More»

[All photos by AMBER DE VOS for PMc]. Yesterday, the latest production of Shakespeare's Othello opened at the Public Theater, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and directed by Peter Sellars. The LAByrinth Theater Company play drew acting legends Meryl Streep, Liev Schreiber, James Earl Jones, Faye Dunaway, Ralph Fiennes, Harvey Keitel and Sam Rockwell on this very successful first night, the debut of a run continuing through the 4th of October. More»

So it got horrible reviews! That didn't stop the stars from turning out for the opening night of The Bacchae. Joan Rivers, Lynn Redgrave, Kathleen Turner, Audra McDonald and Phylicia Rashad were just a few of the Broadway greats to turn out for the second Shakespeare In The Park production of 2009. (The first was notably Anne Hathaway's theatrical debut in Twelfth Night). This production features music composed by Philip Glass, and stars Jonathan Groff and Anthony Mackie. More story and photos below... More»

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? More»