Theater Enthusiasts Brave Heat for 'Shakespeare in the Park' Tickets

“I am to wait, though waiting so be hell.” The words of Shakespeare resonate deeply with theater lovers this summer as they line up for hours under the sweltering sun, hoping to secure tickets for the much-anticipated return of “Shakespeare in the Park.”

On a recent Friday, over 400 eager fans gathered outside the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, many arriving before dawn to claim their spots for an 8 p.m. performance of “Twelfth Night,” featuring stars Peter Dinklage and Sandra Oh.

“It’s worth it,” declared Alex Courtney, a 38-year-old welder from Philadelphia, who took a day off work to spend 12 hours in line for tickets for himself and his wife. Arriving at midnight, he was the first in line, six hours ahead of the park's opening.

As the sun rose, a civil line formed behind him, allowing movement toward the ticket window at 6 a.m. His cousin joined him around 2:30 a.m. “Waiting out is part of the experience,” Courtney noted, highlighting the camaraderie among those waiting.

The atmosphere outside the Delacorte resembled a lively festival, with buskers performing and vendors selling snacks. “This gigantic line is part of the magic,” Courtney said. “It’s a way to build community and keep Shakespeare alive.”

With hundreds camping out, the scene has become a staple of summer in New York City, marking the return of The Public Theater’s iconic program after a two-year hiatus. The area transformed into a makeshift festival ground, complete with temporary restrooms and patrons setting up chairs and blankets.

On that Friday, the crowd remained calm, engaging in conversations, reading, snacking, playing games, and even working remotely. Strangers bonded over shared experiences, holding places in line for one another during bathroom breaks, adhering to a strict 20-minute absence rule.

Only one individual attempted to cut in line by sneaking into the park before it opened but was quickly redirected to the back by staff. “Everyone’s very honorable,” remarked Arthur Night from Brooklyn, who arrived at 5 a.m. for his third attempt at tickets. “No one’s cutting or taking anyone’s place.”

The event features three separate lines, two designated for seniors and disabled patrons, often stretching back to a large rock known as the “rock of lost hope,” several hundred feet from the theater. Around 9 a.m., theater staff warned those near the rock that their chances of securing tickets were slim, yet this did little to deter the determined crowd.

“I’m vibing, I’m waiting, and I hope to get tickets, but I don’t expect to get them today,” said Eliza Yarbrough-Saxon, 25, a choreographer new to Manhattan. She and her girlfriend joined the line at 7 a.m., only to realize they had arrived too late.

“Next time we’ll come much earlier,” she added. “I don’t have a job yet, so I have nothing going on.”

Bianca Pasternack, 36, brought her dog Pepper along for the wait. She and her friend Andrew Vita arrived before 5 a.m. “I don’t feel tired; I feel excited,” said Vita, who has previously queued for Broadway tickets. “I promised myself I wouldn’t do it again, but with this cast and the reopening of the Delacorte, it felt like the right time.”