June 10, 2009

'Twelfth Night' kicks off Shakespeare in the Park

Shakespeare in the Park tonight kicks off its 2009 free summer season with Anne Hathaway in “Twelfth Night,” new food options from Danny Meyer, and a return of the online ticket lottery.

The cast of “Twelfth Night” also features Stark Sands, Audra McDonald, Julie White, Raúl Esparza, David Pittu, Michael Cumpsty and others. Daniel Sullivan directs. Opening night is set for June 25, according to Playbill.

Update: See the “Twelfth Night” reviews.

“Twelfth Night” wraps up July 12, making way for Euripides’ “The Bacchae,” which will feature Jonathan Groff and a choral score by Philip Glass. “The Bacchae” will play from Aug. 11 to 30.

The Virtual Line returns today, allowing anyone to enter the daily lottery between midnight and 1 p.m. You sign back in between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. to see if you have a pair of tickets. Tickets not picked up at least half an hour prior to curtain will be released to the stand-by line.

The Public Theater does not say how many seats are up for grabs this way: “It changes on a daily basis but the majority of Free tickets for Shakespeare in the Park are distributed via the Free line at the Delacorte Theater.”

The same-day ticket distribution at the Delacorte in Central Park starts at 1p.m., though the line starts earlier and rules prohibit saving spots for your dawdling friends. each person in line can snag two tickets. Once those tickets are gone, a standby line may form in hopes of securing stand-by tickets after 6:30 p.m. The stand-by line is one ticket per person.

On 10 days during the season, tickets will also be distributed in other locations in all five boroughs including today at Él Museo del Barrio.

You can also buy your way into Shakespeare in the Park by donating $170 to the Public Theater to get a reserved seat for one show.

The closest entrances to the Delacorte Theater in Central Park are at 81st Street and Central Park West or 79th Street and Fifth Avenue.

Food/drink info: The concession stand sells snacks, sandwiches, soda, wine and beer. Theatergoers are allowed to bring food/beverages into the theater as long as everything fits under their seat. No glass containers allowed.

June 10, 2009 11:13 AM in Broadway, Cheap Stuff, Sightsology, Techology, Upper East Side, Upper West Side

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