Lines for Shakespeare in the park tickets

Old Feb 8th, 2016, 09:16 AM
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Lines for Shakespeare in the park tickets

Hello everyone. I've always had this fantasy about the quintessential New York experience and one piece of that is seeing Shakespeare in the park. I've looked on the website and see you can obtain tickets several ways - online lottery, stand in line or donate. I've registered at the website so that we can participate in the lottery, but even if we got lucky that would get us only two tickets. We are a group of four. How bad are the lines ar the Delacorte for a Tuesday or Wednesday performance? I'm not sure my loving husband and children will love me quite as much if I request they spend hours in line to possibly come up empty handed. Unfortunately the necessary donation for four tickets is ....... well, not likely. I also note a mysterious reference to tickets available at " other" locations in the boroughs. Any thoughts on what those might be? Thanks to all for sharing your expertise.
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Old Feb 8th, 2016, 09:45 AM
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Lines are long. It's at the very least a most-of-a-day commitment to stand in line for tickets and see the show. I've never done it, so I don't know how late you can arrive and still be seated. I would suspect early afternoon at the latest. But I do know that now that you can buy (er, "donate" for) tickets, you have to arrive earlier because there are a lot of people in NYC who are willing to pay for a free experience if it means they don't have to wait in line.
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Old Feb 8th, 2016, 10:12 AM
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I did see the " donate" option ,but it would be an $800 donation for 4 tickets and that kind of messes with the other part of my quintessential New York experience, being able to eat. : )
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Old Feb 8th, 2016, 03:59 PM
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I used to go through the park every morning on the way to work and at 8:30 am the lines for tickets were enormous. Some college kids earned money by standing in line for pay - I don;'t know the amount but assume you would need to pay the at least $50 or so - perhaps more depending on how many people wanted their services.

Otherwise it means one of you standing on line for hours.
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Old Feb 8th, 2016, 04:32 PM
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Line standers usually charge around $20-30 for the first hour, and then $10 or more per each half hour. But you'd need two if you want four tickets, so double the price. As said above, it can be a long wait, depending on the day and when you arrive. However, they usually start distributing tickets at noon, so you wouldn't be in line all afternoon.

If you really want to do it, I suppose you could always wait with just one of your kids lol, that way your husband and other child could still enjoy the morning!

They also do a voucher lottery at The Public each day for every performance. And I'm pretty sure they also make tickets available in other boroughs at times, but only for specific shows.

I don't know how long you're in the city for, but unless it's an extended trip, or this is a dream, "bucket list" type of activity, it's probably not the best use of time. But then again, maybe it is as, of course, only you can decide that!
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Old Feb 8th, 2016, 06:30 PM
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If you are here for the first or second preview day of a production, you have a much better chance of getting a ticket with only waiting a couple of hours. Lousy weather is also promising because the play no play decision is based on the weather at 8PM and not the weather reports in the morning.

You need 2 people to register for the lottery (and yes probably only 1 would win so you wouldn't get 4 tickets)

I would check with the Public but I believe the donate option is still tax deductible.

It is the quintessential NYC theater experience. I see lots of theater - Broadway, off Broadway and off off Broadway and still make it a point to see at least 1 summer production. I'll figure out this summer much closer to the time. More from my blog:

http://thestarryeye.typepad.com/expl...tral-park.html

http://thestarryeye.typepad.com/expl...park-2014.html

http://thestarryeye.typepad.com/expl...tral-park.html
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Old Feb 8th, 2016, 08:30 PM
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Thanks everyone. I kind of figured that would be the case. It wasn't bucket list, but definitely high on the wish list. I just can't justify spending half of a day or more waiting for the chance at tickets. Maybe I'll get lucky in the lottery.

Suenyc- Unfortunately we are there midJune and I think that's a good week or so into performances. I'll definitely check out your blog.
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Old Mar 10th, 2016, 04:33 PM
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Well for anyone else, there was chatter about Shakespeare in the Park on other forums so I've put up this year's tours through the Park to the line. If you are in or visiting the city, this could be a more fun forum meet up than buying expensive drinks at a a bar.
https://www.anyguide.com/tours/the-t...-park-new-york
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Old Mar 10th, 2016, 07:17 PM
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Sue- It looks like a really fun way to have a walking tour and get to know the park and have a chance at tickets. Where exactly does the line for tickets begin? I'm still holding onto the hope that the line won't be too bad.
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Old Mar 11th, 2016, 05:21 AM
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The line is just North of Belvedere Castle and the theater. There are many "hall" monitors. Perhaps if you make it clear that you are only waiting for 4 tickets and will only have 2 in line to pick them up, you might be able to take turns waiting and exploring. This is reasonable to me. It might not be reasonable to them.

Also, I've read on this and other boards and it's happened to me occasionally, all tickets might not be given out to the line on foul weather looking days so you might luck into some tickets later. Good luck. There are so many cool things to do in NYC. You will have fun whatever you do.
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Old Mar 12th, 2016, 08:56 PM
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Thank you Sue.
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Old May 2nd, 2016, 10:27 AM
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I'm back...for those of you who are here in May and can't do the Shakespeare in the Park line there is an amazing mashup of 4 plays written by Shakespeare written in the year 1599. It is long but up close and personal. I saw opening night last night and would recommend it for anyone looking for a Brooklyn intense Shakespeare experience that is a short ride on the C train.

Right now there are tickets on Theatermania Gold and TDF. I do not know how long those will last.

More details here: http://thestarryeye.typepad.com/expl...-may-2016.html

(Oh and do visit the Shakespeare exhibit at the Library of the performing arts!)
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Old May 18th, 2016, 12:47 PM
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Shakespeare previews begin on Tuesday and 1599 is still playing at Irondale. See above.
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Old May 24th, 2016, 11:42 AM
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FYI - lines were short today. Will report back on the play tomorrow.
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Old May 25th, 2016, 08:52 AM
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Taming of the Shrew is a trip. All female cast. 1.5 hours (well less than 2 hours) with no intermission. The male personas (not Caricatures) created by each of the females will be recognizable to females in the audience and perhaps the males as well. There's some modern day schtick thrown in. All in all, a fun thought provoking performance.

I had no tour takers so I strolled over on yesterday's iffy weather day (slight rain during the day, no rain predicted for the evening) after 10:30. The regular line was short but since I had no company and I recently qualified for the senior line, I waited on that one and met some nice folks along the way.

It will never be quite this easy for this run again. The sooner you go, the easier it will be.

I will only be offering a group tour for the first preview of Troilus. I have cruise tour work for the second night. But, I will happily do EARLY morning custom tours on other days.

There are only 2 more Irondale performances but there is plenty of other free or reasonable Shakespeare around this summer.

http://thestarryeye.typepad.com/expl...eare-2016.html
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Old Aug 30th, 2016, 10:55 AM
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Last chance for Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte this weekend. Pageant version of Twelfth Night. I am joining the line Friday. It will be wonderful.
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Old Sep 4th, 2016, 07:30 PM
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My game was off but I finally managed to see Twelfth night this evening. Well worth the effort. Last performance tomorrow.
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