By Tracy Zwick
July 11th to July 13th
Storytelling in Central Park: Saturday at 11 a.m. near the Model Boat Pond in Central Park (closest entrance is at 5th Avenue and East 72nd Street); free
Walk across Central Park with the kids to hear live stories and folklore from around the world at Conservatory Water in Central Park at 11 a.m. This weekend, storytellers Connie-Regan Blake and Robin Bady will recount tales such as Fire on the Mountain, from Ethiopia, and The Beetle, by Hans Christian Andersen.
Richard II: Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 p.m.; free tickets via link here; Central Park near West 69th Street
In the second year of their three-year Shakespeare cycle, Boomerang Theater Company has just four more performances of this Bard staple, all matinees and all free. No-cost tickets can be reserved here. Enter Central Park at West 69th Street and follow the path to the right, past the water fountain. The performance will be on the lawn to the right. Bring a picnic, a blanket or drinks – whatever will help you enjoy the two-hour show.
Sense and Sensibility: Thursday through Sunday in Riverside Park at 6:30 p.m.; performances take place at the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument at West 89th Street and Riverside Drive; free
If Shakespeare’s not for you but you’re up for theater in the park, how about Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility? Jane Austen’s first novel has been adapted for the stage by Susane Lee and the stage is Riverside Park. Hudson Classical Theater Company’s production runs Thursday through Sunday at 6:30 p.m. at Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument at Riverside Drive and West 89th Street. Cushions will be provided for sitting on the stairs of the monument, but there’s limited room for those who want to bring their own chairs. No reservations or tickets are taken, and the company recommends arriving by 6:20 p.m. No late seating!
Tour St. John the Divine’s Gardens and Grounds: Saturday at 3 p.m.; 1047 Amsterdam Ave. at 112th Street; tickets from $12 to $18 available here
Did you know local landmark the Cathedral of St. John the Divine offers a variety of public guided tours? On the second and fourth Saturdays of the month, including this Saturday, they offer a 3:00 p.m. excursion through the 11-acre campus plus the various buildings on the Cathedral Close. Other tours involve climbing more than 124 feet to the top of the world’s largest cathedral, and a “textiles tour” of the cathedral’s conservation lab where experts work on tapestries, needlepoint, costumes and other textiles.
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St John the Divine is NOT the “world’s largest cathedral.”
Which one is?
St Peter’s Cathedral in Rome.
We saw SENSE AND SENSIBILITY this evening after reading this and it was delightful ! We totally recommend it. They basically covered the whole book in 1 hour 45 minutes (no intermission) – most impressive. Especially liked the two actresses playing the leads of Elinor and Marianne — they were wonderful.