By Carol Tannenhauser
After a hiatus of two years to renovate the Delacorte Theater, Thursday morning saw the return of the line in Central Park for free tickets to Shakespeare in the Park, which debuts tonight with “Twelfth Night.”
An event in itself, the line started on Central Park West at around 4:30 a.m., as ticket seekers waited to gain entry to the park, which opens at 6 a.m. It was a perfect morning, cool and sunny, adding to the festive feeling; a more congenial and contented crowd could not be imagined.
No sense in stressing when you know you have six hours in front of you, before tickets are disbursed at noon.
People were reading (books and the paper version of the New York Times), resting in beach chairs, on blankets, and in one hammock, conversing quietly, working, playing chess, communing, eating, and sleeping. It was easy to imagine this as the first scene of tonight’s entertainment. It was a tableau of New Yorkers, many of them Upper West Siders.
Mary and Dean Peterson of West 86th Street were the very first in line. They had arisen at 3:45 a.m. to gain the spot. Why?
“Because there’s nothing like Shakespeare in the Park,” Mary said. “We got engaged here in the park. We have four school-aged kids who do everything in the park. We walk through the park going to and from school. And then to be able to go see Shakespeare under the moon — if you ask me, it’s the very best theater in the city. And it’s free.”
“And I like the line,” Mary added.
“We lived here for 30 years, and we recently retired to Maine, but we came back for this,” said Dean Thomas. He and his wife Daphne were third and fourth in line. “It wasn’t summer without it. There’s so many memories. And the line is a memory also. Yeah, the line. You might think we’re crazy. but you get to know people. We’ve met people on the line that we stay in touch with.”
We also spoke with the aptly named Juliet who grew up on the UWS and has been coming to Shakespeare in the Park since she was a child. “I would wait with my parents when I was little, and now I wait with my friends. And I give the tickets to my parents sometimes. You know, turnabout being fair play, because they waited on line for me for a while.”
By the way, all of these folks are smiling because they are assured tickets.
The line as of Thursday morning had still not reached “The Rock of Despair” or “No Hope,” a line monitor told us. That reassured a few people who were worried about their chances.
For now, they don’t have a care in the world. All they have to do is relax and wait.
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Typical UWS bohemian barefooters with so much free time doing nothing…
Seriously???
I see one single photographs with bare feet, one. Typical? The UWS is quite diverse.
Are you envious?
!!!
It’s all the rent control
What a nasty comment. Mel you sound like an angry bitter judgmental person.
Judgmental maybe, but not totally wrong
I just got my tickets after waiting in line starting at 6 am. Btw I had shoes on. The one morning a year I devote to seeing Shakespeare presented by the great Public Theater with an outstanding cast for free is very worthwhile and such a gift – it is the cultural event of the season! If this were on Broadway, tickets for two would cost me in the $600. range which I can’t afford. I recommend to this scoffing Mel to try it. Lively, brilliant theater with your fellow New Yorkers and other lovers of Shakespeare could turn you into a happier person, less prone to criticizing what you haven’t tried.
You have many weeks left to try it. Just get in line early so you get a ticket. Good luck!
…as opposed to people sitting around complaining on blogs, who clearly have a profitable use for their every moment?
Brilliant reply to Mel!
Have to confess I don’t like Shakespeare. I feel like we’re “supposed” to like Shakespeare. But the humor is too broad and punny and the language is too arcane. I dated a professor once who desperately wanted to join a group that read Shakespeare together for fun. It was a brief relationship.
Ah, but it’s such a quintessential New York experience. How can you not enjoy it, especially if it’s a clear, comfortable star-filled night?
Your loss.
Agreed. And this Shakespeare in the park thing became a political stance anyway.
Nice to see people actually enjoying the benefits of our great city. I admit I’m lazy and just try to get online lottery tickets, but if you have the time and the relative lack of lower back pain–!
These pictures look like a parody skit, all the stereotypes of the UWS are in it, almost satire.
Nevertheless, it’s the mellowest, friendliest ticket line in NYC — or anywhere
Where are you, Roz Chast?
“I hate Shakespeare.”
“I hate the people in my neighborhood just being themselves.”
“I hate dishes I’ve never tried.”
“I hate events.”
WSR comments section stays reminding me how I *don’t* want to be when I’m retired.
“I hate people posting comments about hating things I love”
Pleased that Maggie was able to join the line too!
That looks like fun and reminds me of my younger days. I used to wait for standby tickets for “Saturday Night Live” in decades past and the camaraderie of the line was part of the experience. I don’t have the stamina for it anymore (nor the bladder 😁).
There’s something magical about Shakespeare in the Park — not just the performance, but the entire ritual of the line itself. Reading this felt like a love letter to New York summer traditions. The stories from longtime attendees like Mary, Dean, and Juliet show how art, memory, and public space are woven together here in a uniquely New York way.
If you’re into tools that celebrate creativity and everyday magic (whether on stage or in line), check out flashtools.com — where technology meets personal storytelling. https://flashtoolss.com/
Yes it’s terrible getting older with one’s energy running out! Especially… as a Brit, I related to attending Shakespeare In The Park years ago! .. Amazing actors and a wonderful venue! Cheers!
Gotta love the diversity of opinions in here. Shakespeare? Oh, I could take him or leave him. King Lear’s pretty good. Shakespeare in the Park? Could go either way on that too.
Beautiful stories and smiles!
From Reddit report someone who was in line at 7am didn’t get a tix (didn’t know until they lined up till 1/50pm). Just an FYI for those considering.
I’m all for doing what you love and what makes you happy, tho’ I’ve never waited in line this long for anything – especially without handy restroom facilities. When will the renovations be done on the bathrooms?
… This is New York…. Nothing gets done fast! or cheaply! Takes forever and costs a billion to fix anything here in the City where those that run it ‘Sleep forever’ !!
The line monitor told me they have bathrooms in a trailer by the theater.
Happy memories of Joe Papp, who fought successfully for a permanent home for Shakespeare In the Park. I remember a New Yorker cover showing the New York skyline, with the giant skywriting headline “A Joseph Papp Production. ” Continued thanks, Joe.
Nice article and pics….Looks like a New York moment!
Only in NY can getting free tickets become a death March. If you are a senior or disabled, you’re out of luck.
…you know there’s an online ticket lottery too, right? There are even special lines for senior and disabled tickets!
https://info-faqpt.helpscoutdocs.com/article/475-free-shakespeare-in-the-park-tickets-2025