There is an long, long list of great perks that come with being a native New Yorker and one that really hits home, is being able to enjoy free Shakespeare inside New York’s Central Park as provided by The Public Theater and ripping up the stage, right now, is A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, directed by Lear deBessonet with choreography by Chase Brock.  deBessonet’s MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM runs through Sunday, August 13. 

The Delacorte Theater transforms into the most enchanted forest in all of theater in Shakespeare’s beloved comedy and one that’s most child friendly.  A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM tells the story of the merry sprite Puck who meddles with a magical love potion causing young lovers, who are lost in the woods, to mysteriously find themselves infatuated with the wrong person. Truly one of Shakespeare most hilarious, fairytale with an over the top, fantasia flair proving that the “course of true love never did run smooth.” 

Lear deBessonet, founder of The Public Theater’s groundbreaking Public Works program brings her electric theatrical vision to the classic romance about the supernatural nature of love with a cast of some of the finest performers working on stage today.  The complete cast of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM features Annaleigh Ashford (Helena); De’Adre Aziza (Hippolyta); Kyle Beltran (Lysander); Min Borack (Fifth Fairy); Vinie Burrows (First Fairy, Peaseblossom); Danny Burstein (Nick Bottom); Justin Cunningham (Philostrate); Marcelle Davies-Lashley (Fairy Singer); Austin Durant (Snug); Shalita Grant (Hermia); Keith Hart (Third Fairy); Alex Hernandez (Demetrius); Jeff Hiller (Francis Flute); Robert Joy (Peter Quince); Patricia Lewis (Fourth Fairy); David Manis (Egeus, Cobweb); Pamela McPherson-Cornelius (Second Fairy); Patrena Murray (Snout); Kristine Nielsen (Puck); Bhavesh Patel (Theseus); Richard Poe (Oberon); Phylicia Rashad (Titania); Joe Tapper (Robin Starveling); Judith Wagner (Mote); Warren Wyss (Mustardseed); Benjamin Ye (Changeling Boy); and Rosanny Zayas (Understudy).

To learn more about how to reserve your free tickets go to https://www.publictheater.org/Free-Shakespeare-in-the-Park/

*Performances are rarely rained out and never cancelled before 8:00 p.m.