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When 'the Play's the Thing,' Some Like it Hot


If these sultry Big Apple days are awakening the eclectic side of your theater-going appetite—I’m talking everything from visionary to whimsical to weird—then get ready for a smorgasbord of shows served up both al fresco and air-conditioned.

The key contender on the bucolic front is, as always, free Shakespeare in the Park—the late, great Joe Papp’s summer legacy that takes up residence at the Delacorte Theater each summer. And while the first production, The Tempest with Sam Waterston ended its run on July 5th, Cymbeline picks up the gauntlet on July 23rd with a cast featuring Lily Rabe, Hamish Linklater and Kate Burton.

First runner up in the freebie outdoor category is Hudson Warehouse’s Summer Stage at the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument in Riverside Park where Oliver Goldsmith’s She Stoops to Conquer rocks the great outdoors from 7/2 through 7/26, followed by Shakespeare’s Titus running 7/30 through 8/23—both shows Thurs.-Sun. at 6:30pm.

As for the season’s indoor pleasures, Broadway is a goldmine for family must- sees, starting with Disney’s dynamic duo of The Lion King (Julie Taymor’s visionary take on the Pride Lands of Africa coupled with a glorious score and memorable characters); and Aladdin, boasting sexy Adam Jacobs in the title role and a Tony-winning James Monroe Iglehart as Genie whose pull-out-all-the-stops production number “Friend Like Me” may well be the best Broadway show-stopper—ever!

On the more recent front—i.e., this past season—there’s the charming Finding Neverland (pictured above) starring a brilliant Matthew Morrison as Peter Pan’s creator, J.M. Barrie. The news here is, that at some point in July, TV’s Frasier, Kelsey Grammer, will be taking a couple months off (through September 13th) from his dual role as Charles Frohman/ Captain Hook. His replacement will be Anthony Warlow, last seen on Broadway in his acclaimed portrayal of Daddy Warbucks in the hit revival of Annie. So, it’s basically a win-win regardless of when you catch this most excellent musical.

Other summertime recommendations include the Off-Broadway limited run “Folk Concert Play” Seawife up and running at the South Street Seaport Museum through July 19th. This awesome theatrical event invites theatregoers to raise a glass of ale as they experience a seafaring tale laced with haunting folk ballads and bluegrass tunes. Bonus: The opportunity to explore the cool shops and restaurants of the Seaport pre-and post-theatre.

Finally, the annual Lincoln Center Festival’s theatrical offerings for Summer 2015—both launching perfromances on 7/27, are August Strindberg’s Miss Julie, staged by iconoclastic German director Thomas Ostermeier, (through 8/2); and Ramona, a puppet-centric import from puppeteer Leo Gabriadze (kid friendly but in Georgian with English supertitles), through 8/1. For details on both visit LincolnCenterFestival.org

About the Author

City Guide Theatre Editor Griffin Miller moved to New York to pursue an acting/writing career in the 1980s after graduating magna cum laude from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Since then, she has written for The New York Times, For the Bride, Hotels, and a number of other publications, mostly in the areas of travel and performance arts. An active member of The New York Travel Writers Association, she is also a playwright and award-winning collage artist. In addition, she sits on the board of The Lewis Carroll Society of North America. Griffin is married to Richard Sandomir, a reporter for The New York Times.

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