Everyone has a summer bucket list they’d like to complete before heading back to school next month. For theater lovers, that list can be lengthy due to all of the free time due to lack of school. Take advantage of this time when you don’t have to worry about waking up early for school or spending hours on homework. Here’s my list of things to do before your summer ends:
- So you don’t have to wake up for class or school, but you can wake up early to get a rush ticket. These tickets are in limited quantity but you can get a fantastic deal on your favorite shows! $25 for First Date, $37 for Pippin, and a bunch of other great deals (pricing varies on the show; see all shows/deals here). They are available when the box office opens and some are student only, but be prepared to get there early to ensure your spot. You have the free time to put to use, so make the most out of it!
- Summer also brings out Mother Nature’s most gorgeous weather! Spend time outdoors while you still can! New York has a number of parks to escape the concrete jungle. My two favorite parks are Central Park and Bryant Park. Central Park is the home of the Delacorte Theatre which is currently showing Shakespeare in the Park’s Love’s Labour’s Lost. Bryant Park hosts one of my favorite summer events, Broadway in Bryant Park, on Thursdays. In addition to these events, the parks offer free, non-theater related events such as classes, workshops, jazz, classical music performances, movies, sports, and more. You can see the calendar for Bryant Park here and for Central Park here.
- Personally, I like to spend my summer days reading books. I find that I often have too much to read during the school year related to my education, so the summer gives me the free time to read what I want. I’m currently working on Alex Ko’s autobiography about his journey with Billy Elliot. There are many, many books out there – pick one and escape to another world or learn something new.
- Many students take performing arts classes during their school year (or concentrate on it in college or conservatory). The extra time that summer provides can help you improve your craft even a little bit. Many studios offer walk-in classes, so it’s a great way to keep the muscles moving. You can even take a class that your school schedule doesn’t allow time for. Either way, keeping up with you singing, dancing, and acting classes over the summer can keep that passion going and improving, readying you for the year ahead.