One of my most treasured New York memories involved getting up early. Once in summer 2012, I woke up at 5 AM so I could get to Central Park by 6 AM. Why? I wanted (no, needed) to get tickets to that year's free Shakespeare in the Park production: Into the Woods starring Donna Murphy, Amy Adams, and Denis O'Hare. And, readers: after six hours of waiting, I got those tickets. The production was worth the wait.
Waiting in line for Shakespeare in the Park tickets is a rite-of-passage for any New Yorker, especially if you're a theatre fan. With the star-studded production of Twelfth Night (with Lupita Nyong'o, Sandra Oh, Peter Dinklage, and many others) opening August 7, this year's Shakespeare in the Park production will be a hot ticket. And if you want to be in the Delacorte Theater, you will need to have a game plan.
So here's a handy guide on how to get tickets to Shakespeare in the Park.
But now, a warning: Beware of scalpers. Tickets to Shakespeare in the Park are not distributed until the day of the performance. If you see any tickets online claiming they're for a future date, they're most likely fraudulent and not to be trusted. When there's so many legitimate ways to get tickets, there is no need to go to secondhand sources.
With that out of the way, here's how you can get tickets.
Line Up at the Delacorte Theater
The classic way to get tickets is to queue up outside the Delacorte Theater. Tickets (two per person) are handed out every performance day at noon. Central Park opens at 6 AM every day, and considering the caliber of the cast of Twelfth Night, we recommend getting there as soon as the park opens. If you want to line up in Central Park, bring snacks, a friend, and a comfy blanket to sit/sleep on. You'll be in the line for a while.
The Delacorte also has a standby line before every performance. Anyone who doesn't pick up their show tickets before 7:30 PM will have those tickets released to the standby line. That is also first-come, first-serve. Ticket distribution to the standby line begins at 6 PM.
Line Up in Various Places Around the City
If you don't live near the Delacorte, that's okay. The Public Theater, the producer behind Shakespeare in the Park, will distribute ticket vouchers in different locations throughout the five boroughs of New York. Each performance date will have a different distribution point, so be sure to check the day of pickup spot at PublicTheater.org. Ticket vouchers are distributed at noon, two per person. Anyone who receives a voucher must exchange them for tickets at The Delacorte Theater box office between 5:30 PM and 7:30 PM.
Generally, you don't have to line up six hours ahead of time for borough distribution, though it is recommended you get there a couple hours beforehand.
These vouchers are for Public Theater Patrons only, so be sure to sign up for a free patron account before you line up at PublicTheater.org/login.
Do the Lottery
If you cannot line up in person for hours, you can do the lottery. The Public Theater has an in-person lottery at its home base at 425 Lafayette Street. On every performance date, they will begin taking entries in the lobby on the day of at 11 AM. The lottery will be drawn at noon every day a public performance is scheduled. Examples of non-public performances are Openings, Invitational Community Nights, and Galas (so check the performance calendar to make sure the lottery is open that day). Each person will be given two ticket vouchers, which must be exchanged for tickets at the Delacorte Theater box office between 5:30 PM and 7:30 PM.
There is also a digital lottery that is distributed by TodayTix for most public performance dates. Enter the lottery for that day's performance via the TodayTix app, and you will know at noon if you've won.
Purchase Tickets
No, we don't mean going to StubHub or Ticketmaster. For anyone who doesn't want to wait in line or play the lottery, there is one way to purchase tickets to Shakespeare in the Park: by becoming a Public Theater Member. If you commit to making a donation of at least $300 to the Public Theater, you'll be able to reserve a seat at Shakespeare in the Park. Plus, you'll help fund the Public Theater's many productions and programs, and the donation is tax-deductible. Learn how to be a member here.
For more detailed information on how to get tickets to Shakespeare in the Park, visit the PublicTheater.org. May the odds be in your favor. And if you end up not snagging a ticket, you can watch the Twelfth Night proshot when it airs on PBS November 14.
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