Opening Tonight! Twelfth Night!

There are few things more traditional to a NY summer than The Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park. Two shows over the summer take place in the magnificence of the delecorte theater in central park and it's truly always a magical experience.

First up, technically opening tonight and running through July 12th, is 12th night. One of Shakespeare's comedies about a cross dressing woman and the faults of love and gender (how appropriate for gay pride week!) it's a fun show with an allstar cast. (Anne Hathaway for the general population, Raul Esparza, Julie White and Audra MacDonald for theater geeks like me.)

I went this past Tuesday and the show was lovely lovely lovely. Not stand out (read my post about romeo and juliet from a few years ago) but there are a ton of laughs and it's overall delightful. The rolling hillside side sets the scene perfectly and everyone holds up their parts quite well, the singing parts are a total delight and keep your ears peeled for a See You Next Tuesday joke! And honestly, I swoon just sitting in that theater under the stars with the castle in the background, you just can't beat it!

You can also bring anything you like to munch or drink upon in the theater (provided no glass bottles are there!) I highly recommend a nice spread of wine and cheese (Thanks Ben's friend Gerrit with nice eyes!) Shakespeare would appreciate.

So, you may be asking, but LA, how do I get to experience this wonder? Well my friends, there are three ways.

1) buy expensive tickets and become a member (ha! not free and cheap!)
2) wait in line

This is the traditional way folks. Every day when there is a show (Tue-Sunday, 8pm) hundreds upon hundreds are given out for free to those able and willing to wait for hours upon hours to be bestowed with a golden ticket into the gates. Tickets are given out at 1pm at both the delecorte theater (which I love because you get to wait in the park) a short five minute walk into the park from the 82nd street path entrance or at the public theater in greenwich village. I got there at 8 30 am on a Tuesday and was fine but once press picks up I would recommend getting there by 7am for weekends and 8am for weekdays to be safe. Brings blankets and cushions (they blocked off the grass so sadly Ben, my partner in crime, and my butts were quite sore) and food and drink. They have finally opened up a cafe for food but you can always order from the amazing Andy's, the guys guarding the line has the number!

NOTE: If you are waiting in line, people are CRAZY! You can't have friends join you, you can't really leave. Even if the people around you seem cool someone in the back once told on me because my friend showed up 1/2 hour I got there. So you never know

BUT you do get 2 tkts per person, so that is fun!

3. Virtual Line!

Stuck in work all day or can't muster the energy to wake up early? Here is the solution for you! Sign up, cross your fingers and if you win, you get a ticket!

Now go out and enjoy!!!!

PS. This picture isn't of the current set (no photos allowed!) but of the theater with the castle. It coincidentally also looks like it was taken right where I was sitting!

The greatest love story ever told....for FREE!

Another one of summer's all too sweet perks in the city include the infamous Shakespeare in the park presented by The Public theatre. Featuring top notch in-city and imported (from hollywood that is) actors, the shows promise to be filled with big stars, breathtaking sets, and some of the best Shakespeare and classical theater this side of the Rose. Yesterday I had the (ahem) pleasure of waking up at 6am to get in line for the coveted free tickets being handed out at the Delacorte Theater in central park (where the show takes place). Arriving at 7 40 (fucking A train on the weekend) made us number 143 in line, on a Sunday and on opening night. With Scattergories, novels, Othello, cards, blankets, pillows, H and H bagels, hand fans and comic books in tow it ended up being QUITE an enjoyable six hours (thanks Zach and Linds for the great company)! Then, at 1, we were finally given the precious tickets. Our seats were actually quite good, a little off to the right and up but definitely full view, and we brought supplies (you can eat and drink (yes even wine, Shakespeare would be proud, no glass bottles though so be ready to transfer at the gate to a nalgene) in the theater! The set was breathtaking, a water landscape circular and moving (which lead to a hilarious incident when Juliet's bed fell into the fathoms below and the show had to be stopped in the middle, quite wonderful fun!) with various bridges guiding the story's way. Starring Lauren Ambrose as Juliet (and many other wonderful people whose names I do not know off the top of my head) it was probably the best production of R and J I have ever seen. Something about the way the leads were played was just so YOUNG and not in a hurrah I am skipping and have a teddy bear young but I am falling recklessly and passionately and irrationally into love young. And, instead of coming off as TRUE LOVE, it presented itself as a sort of wonderful depiction of that very first time when all bets are off and you'd do anything to be a glove upon that hand.

Here are my tips for the show!

Get tickets Tue- Sun, they are given out at 1pm at the Delacorte in Central Park (near 81st street and west entrance) and at the Public theater at 425 Lafayette just below astor place. They are also distributed throughout the boroughs but you'll have to find that on your own! I would say def get there by 9 if you'd like decent tickets but on other days you can get there much later and still snag a seat! Just beware of the weather, if it rains and the show is canceled you're out of luck! Definitely bring a pillow and a novel and LAYERS. I went in between a sweatshirt freezing to a bikini boiling (and tanning!) throughout the day. They say you all have to arrive at the same time, which is nice for the line but they don't REALLY start monitoring until around 10. That's all my advice, remember 2 tickets per person so if you have an extra give me a call!!!

oh, and the show runs through July 8th, go now!

Free Stars! (and baseball)

First off, sorry about the lack of posts. Seems the wireless I steal from has been malfunctioning, leaving me sad and on my lonesome with no internet connection (luckily I am in the midst of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, Brilliant piece of work, I recommend it, but I digress).

While two blocks from my apartment at this very moment are Leo Dicaprio and Kate Winslet filming their new movie, I had an even BIGGER star encounter today that I had to share with you all. In case you haven't noticed, I am quite the broadway junkie. I'm obsessed with the shows, the stars, the music and haven't shut up about spring awakening since I first saw it in December, just ask Anthony. Being a new yorker (and a regular viewer of seinfeld) I've heard of the famed Broadway summer softball league where cast, crew and tech of shows battle it out for the jockiest of the theatre dorks. Long have I wished to happen upon a game, to see a star walking by, John Gallagher Jr. (soon to be TONY winner) with a bat poised casually over his shoulder (shit, I digress again!) but never did I believe I'd actually find it. WELL my friends, today I was sitting at Columbus circle taking lunch break from a conference with my new friend Melissa when a woman walking her dog wearing a Grey Gardens shirt walked by. Now this was not your ordinary Gray Gardens shirt, no no no, it was a three quarter length sleeve shirt with buttons. AKA, a baseball shirt. I thought I hallucinated and moved on until a similarly dressed woman walked by, this time with a shirt emblazoned with WICKED across the front. Melissa, I say, we have to follow her, I think she's going to the broadway summer softball league!

I literally thought I had died and gone to heaven. Laid out before my very eyes were SIX, SIX fields full of my favorite broadway shows! Company v Frost/ Nixon, Merry Poppins versus Legally Blonde. Ladies and Gentlemen, I was overcome with joy! THEN I spent about 20 minutes talking to the guy who plays Zazu from the Lion King getting the details, turns out games are every Thursday in the park (ask for the baseball fields closest to columbus circle) they start at 11 and go to around 3. When I inquired to the whereabouts of spring awakening, he said they already played as the newer shows tend to go on the fields earlier because they "supposedly" (his words) have less rehearsals. Well my friends, if you are bored on a Thursday and looking for the perfect harmony of music, theater and the all american past time, look no further than central park. I may call in sick and be there too!

Shakespeare on the Run!

Welcome to the beginning of summer and the plethora of events occurring right in NYC which are outdoors, fun, entertaining and best of all free! I'll kick off June with my absolute most favorite of events, Shakespeare on the Run brought to you by The New York Classical Theatre.
This twist on Shakespeare summer loving is that you get to move through Central Park throughout the show! While the story begins at 103rd street and central park west (take the C to 103) right inside the park, you run after actors as they show progresses (ok ok, not actual running but you can make it into a sport by dodging trees and bikers!). They actors use the scenery of the park well, are dressed in full period costume and incorporate flashlights as dusk settles. PLUS it's a great introduction to classical theater for kids as you can move around the park! grab some Bombay Frankie's before the show and bring a blanket that you can easily scoop up and move along!

Now playing through June 24th, Love's Labour's Lost, Thu through Sunday at 7pm.

Because it's SPRING (AWAKENING)

Alright, I waited an entire week before I GUSHED about my new favorite Broadway musical....


SPRING AWAKENING!

I think it now goes down as my most-frequented NYC cheap event as I have been a whopping four times (beating out Rent in my Bway count) and have, honestly, thought I enjoy it more and more each time. Not only is it fresh and provides some amazing tunes (it's all I listen to in finals mode) but the cast is young, the choreography is modern and the stories, while jolted from time to time, are compelling.

About teenage rebellion and SEX this show brings us back to 1891 Germany (when the original play was written) where teens are suppressed, molested, horny, curious and pissed (when are they not?) The information is limited and their bodies are raring. There are many parts which could be done better (the use of a homosexual relationship as comic relief, the taking out of the original clear date rape scene etc), there are still parts more honest than most plays I have seen and it's FRESH. To be honest, I wasn't overwhelmed the first time but after I went home I found the songs permeating through my mind (see a music video here) and I felt compelled to go back. Second time was the charm, third and forth too. STAY AFTER and be a theater nerd and chat with the amazingly nice and down to earth cast and become addicted.

For 26.25 student tickets bring ID and CASH to the theater on 49th between Broadway and 8th. Box office opens 10am M-S and noon on Sundays. Get there a good two hours beforehand as they reserve student seats for every show but it is v, popular. OH! and if you get "partial view" seats, ask for ones on audience right, you'll miss less that way.

just GO, seriously, actually go TWICE (it's WAYYY better times two, or at least learn the songs before hand (they're on itunes).

Icey Presidents? Frost/Nixon

Today's entry will be short and sweet. I've mentioned it before but now I have supreme backup from my bible, the New York Times.

Go see FROST/NIXON! An amazing take on the tv interviews which basically got Nixon to admit his guilt featuring what I think is the best acting since I saw Meryl Streep in Mother Courage last summer. Minus a few made up facts I thought it was a wonderful depiction of a crazy time. I didn't want this gem of a play to end and was utterly delighted at the end.

But don't take my word for it, read the NYT review!

And of course, there are cheap student tickets "when available". We got front row center seats by showing up half an hour before the box office opened. (Though you may need to get there earlier now it's received rave reviews from practically all the major news sources). Tkts are 26.25 per person bring cash and your school id. Two tickets per person, box office is located at on 45th street between Broadway and 8th.

Go! seriously! NOW!

Broadway Baby

I'll be writing more about specific shows later on in the posts but for a general overview I wanted to link you all to this site:

Talkin Broadway!

It basically has everything you need to know about getting cheap/ rush/ lottery/ standing room tickets for all broadway and many off broadway shows. Just click on the box under the show and they'll list whether they do rush/ student rush etc and what you need to bring. Call other off broadway theaters to see if they do rush, most do!

Hopefully after seeing shows I will eventually write back with tips about what time you need to get there/ how the seats were etc but here's what I know so far:


Student Rush Shows:

Spring Awakening: I would recommend getting there around 2 hours before the box office opens, seats vary but they save student seats for every show. Ask to sit on the audience L side if you are going to get restricted view because you won't miss as much as if you were sitting on the other side.

Frost/ Nixon: I saw this while it was in previews and LOVED IT. We got to the box office about 20 minutes before it opened and were the first ones in line (this may change though as the show actually get reviewed). Tickets were in the front row!

Lottery shows:


Avenue Q: front row seats!
Wicked: front row seats!
Hairspray: I was seated waaayyyyyy at the back,
Putnam: We were off to the side in a theater in the round but still saw mostly everything!