The Drama Queen

Tourists and locals alike will make plans around a particular show or even two. Whether it’s a famous Broadway classic like Chicago or a show you’ve never heard of, don’t hesitate to see more than one while you’re here.

Each year, the Public Theater hosts Shakespeare in the Park—a free, full-scale production at Delacorte Theater in Central Park. This 2023 season will showcase Shakespeare’s Hamlet and runs from June 6 to Aug. 6. Though tickets are difficult to come by, they are free and if you’re diligent, you can get them.

Often referred to as the best comedy club in the nation, Comedy Cellar has a rotation of top comedians in the area. Get your reservations and sit in to hear some of comedy’s greatest.

In the late 1930s, the McKittrick Hotel was supposed to be the first (and best) of its kind. That is until World War II hit and its doors never opened. Now, the building has been reimagined to create an immersive and interactive experience through the story Sleep No More, based on Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Choose your own way through the story at your own pace and see what happens.

Listen, sometimes you’re just tired of normal theater and want to mix it up. Enter Drunk Shakespeare. Five actors meet to perform, then one of them starts the show by taking five shots of whiskey and attempts their best leading role in a Shakespearean play. The other four sober actors do their best to keep the show on track. If you’ve ever seen Drunk History on Comedy Central, it’s similar. But live.

Last but not least, if you’re just a huge fan of theater and can’t get enough of it, visit One Shubert Alley, a popular Broadway gift shop that goes beyond the simple items you can get the one time you go to the show. Stop by and see what’s there as their partners are constantly changing.