Showing posts with label summer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label summer. Show all posts

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Free Outdoor Comedy Shows this Summer!


When I hear the words, "free comedy show" I immediately think of wannabe comics performing at an open mic night telling vulgar jokes about their bodily functions and blow jobs. Totally not my scene! So last summer when I heard about Laughter in the Park, a free comedy series in NYC,  I attended with great trepidation. Now having seen several laugh-out-loud funny shows, I recommend them to anyone who will listen. The series is organized by NY Laughs, a non-profit organization dedicated to making the city a better place through humor (seriously, how great is that?!). The shows take place in various parks throughout the summer and draw some awesome comic talent. Past performers include Amy Schumer, Eddie Brill, Reggie Watts, and Christian Finnegan. The series also showcases up-and-coming comedians and has also introduced me to some really great comics who I never would have discovered before... like Chris Distefano (pictured below) who performed at Washington Square Park last year!
Laughter In the Park 2013-Chris Distefano

Laughter in the Park had its 2014 kickoff show today in Central Park and has four more amazing events coming up! 

July 13th
Tompkins Square Park
2-4 PM

July 20th
Washington Square Park
2-4 PM

July 27th
Central Park
2-4 PM

August 2nd
Foley Square
12-12:30 PM

A full lineup of comics for upcoming shows is announced on their website before each event and you can also follow them on Twitter (@nylaughs) to stay updated!

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Shakespeare in the Park...For Free!



It has been way too long since I've posted. Between finals, starting a new internship, and dealing with some major health issues, this blog had to take a backseat for a while. But as summer is kicking into full swing, so am I! Summer is the best season for amazing free and cheap events in the city. Case and point: Shakespeare in the Park.

Since 1962, the Public Theater has been sponsoring free performances of Shakespeare's most iconic plays in Central Park; often casting big name actors like Amy Adams, Meryl Streep, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and Anne Hathaway. Performed in the open air Delacorte Theater, stadium seating guarantees there is not a bad seat in the house.

This year's performances include Much Ado about Nothing (through July 6th) and King Lear (July 22nd-August 17th). I was so excited when my friend Bekah volunteered to go through the ticketing process (see below). We attended the show last Wednesday. I would not consider myself a Shakespeare fan. In fact I was barely certain I would be able to follow the storyline with all those thee's and thou's much less actually enjoy the play. So I was absolutely shocked when I found myself laughing out loud along with the rest of the audience at the many hilarious jokes and becoming emotionally invested in the romances of the characters. It was truly a great experience and one I would highly recommend to others.

Read on to find out how you can get tickets and my tips for making it the best experience it can be!