The days are longer, and the sun is brighter. The TKTS line stretches with confused tourists all the way to Coney Island, while the children and cockroaches attack the ice cream trucks in perfect harmony. The sidewalks are hotter than a ticket to The Book of Mormon, and the subway stations are so muggy that they might as well be flooded. And what does it all mean? Summertime has come to NYC? Well, that too I suppose. But, more importantly, it means THEATER FESTIVAL SEASON!
Yes fellow theatre nerds, the summer months in NYC might mean major Broadway openings take a short hiatus until the fall, but the city is still full of theatre in every shape and form. That’s thanks to the innumerable theatre festivals that take place in the summer season, showcasing hundreds of new works and classics alike.
It would be impossible to see every show at every festival, but I can’t stress enough how important it is for us to support these theatrical meccas. They’re pivotal to the development of work, and of the art form as a whole. So, if you decide to catch some festival shows this summer, here are our top five that you just can’t miss.
5) Midtown International Theatre Festival
The MITF may be one of the newer festivals among the pack, as it’s only into its 14th season, but it’s been undoubtedly climbing up the ranks. This year, their four venues will house over 60 shows, plus a handful of staged readings. MITF’s commitment to showcasing this vast amount of new work in the midtown area must be commended, and they’re desire to keep their artists’ personal costs down (with free rehearsal space to boot!) is just the icing on the cake.
4) Lincoln Center Festival
Many people aren’t even aware that the mighty Lincoln Center has its own version of a summer theatre festival, but like every other Lincoln Center endeavor- it’s big. Really big. Known for commissioning new work, as well as sponsoring work from around the globe to travel to the Big Apple, their festival features the highest forms of opera, dance, theatre, music and special performance art. Just a few years ago, the Lincoln Center Festival actually brought the Royal Shakespeare Company’s entire season to the US, in an exact replica of the RSC’s Courtyard Theatre. Insane.
3) The Public Theatre’s Shakespeare in the Park
I know you’ve heard of this. Every summer, the Public Theatre distributes thousands of free tickets to performances at their outdoor Delacorte Theatre in Central Park. Sure, you may have to wait for a few hours- but it’s free theatre! Count me in! A tradition started by the famous Joseph Papp, the Delacorte houses Shakespearean classics, as well as an array of musical revivals (Hair, Into the Woods) and new musicals, such as this summer’s Love’s Labour’s Lost. You just can’t go wrong.
2) New York Musical Theatre Festival
Coming in at second is the NYMF, which just received a special Drama Desk for their incredible work over the past ten years in developing new musicals. With anywhere from thirty to fifty shows each festival, they have nurtured many a commercial hit at its baby stages, such as Next to Normal and [title of show]. You never know when the NYMF might have another Broadway show cooking, and it’s always worth checking out their offerings.
1) New York International Fringe Festival
Finally, when you hear “theatre festival”, what comes to mind? The Fringe. It’s inevitable. It’s undeniable. For years, FringeNYC has been the largest multi-arts festival in North America. It’s 16 days, in 20 venues, with over 200 shows. Yes, you read that right. The smorgasbord of theatrical offerings is unlike anything else, and the Fringe is one of few places where, at $15 tickets, you can take in ten shows at the price of one Broadway ticket. So, what are you doing? Why are you still reading this? Get off your computer and get thee to a festival!
Photo via NYMF
