Shake up Shakespeare

Shake up Shakespeare

9k followers
Think you know Shakespeare? These pieces flip the script on the classics to give you something totally new. From pop-music sequels and rowdy drinking games to gritty, modern-day thrillers, this collection proves these old stories are still wild, loud, and anything but boring.
Poster of Standard Lottery - Free Shakespeare in the Park's Romeo & Juliet in New York..

Standard Lottery - Romeo & Juliet: Free Shakespeare in the Park

Saheem Ali's bilingual reimagining for The Public is the first Romeo & Juliet in Central Park in nearly twenty years. The Montagues and Capulets argue, brawl, and grieve in English; Romeo and Juliet speak Spanish to each other, a private language reserved for their shared world. Free tickets via the daily digital lottery this summer, exclusively on TodayTix.

Poster of Drunk Romeo & Juliet in New York.

Drunk Romeo & Juliet

86%

1.2k ratings

from $37

The world’s greatest love story gets a riotous makeover in this hidden library speakeasy where one professional actor downs five shots before the curtain rises. Watch as a sober cast tries to keep the star-crossed tragedy on track amidst whiskey-fueled mayhem and unpredictable improvised twists.

Poster of & Juliet in New York.

& Juliet

91%

5.8k ratings

from $59

This nine-time Tony nominee flips the script on the world's most famous tragedy by asking: what if Juliet didn't die? Set to a high-octane soundtrack of Max Martin pop hits, this neon-soaked explosion of music and meta-theater rewrites Shakespeare's ending into a hilarious and empowering journey of self-discovery.

The Lion King

92%

13.6k ratings

from $112

It’s an open secret that this Pride Lands epic is actually a masterclass in reimagining Hamlet, trading the gloomy castles of Denmark for a vibrant, sprawling savanna. By leaning into the "heir to the throne" tragedy through stunning puppetry and a lush score, the show makes the high-stakes drama of Shakespeare feel entirely approachable and visually breathtaking for a modern audience.

Poster of Drunk Shakespeare in New York.

Drunk Shakespeare NYC

86%

1.2k ratings

This riotous reinvention tosses out the rulebook by tasking one professional actor with five shots of whiskey before attempting a masterpiece. Surrounded by library stacks and craft cocktails, it’s a high-stakes, improvisational whirlwind where no two performances are ever the same.

Poster of Henry VI: A Trilogy in Two Parts in New York.

Henry VI: A Trilogy in Two Parts

from $87

Three rarely-staged Shakespeare histories compressed into two evenings of rep at The Public, turning the sprawling War of the Roses saga — the funeral of Henry V, decades of foreign war, full-blown civil collapse into something you can actually watch in a single weekend. Part 1 and Part 2 play on different nights, so check the calendar before you book.

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Frequently asked questions

Who was William Shakespeare?

William Shakespeare was an English playwright and poet, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language. He wrote 39 plays and 154 sonnets between roughly 1589 and 1613, including Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and King Lear.

Why is Shakespeare important to theater?

Shakespeare established many of the dramatic structures, character types, and emotional vocabulary that modern theater still uses. His work has been continuously performed for over 400 years and translated into every major language, making him the most-staged playwright in history.

Is The Lion King a Shakespeare adaptation?

Yes. Disney's The Lion King is loosely based on Hamlet, with a young prince exiled after his father's murder by his uncle and his return to reclaim the throne. The Broadway musical retains the story structure while adding new music and African staging influences.

What musicals are based on Shakespeare plays?

Broadway musicals based on Shakespeare include West Side Story (Romeo and Juliet), Kiss Me, Kate (The Taming of the Shrew), & Juliet (a reimagining of Romeo and Juliet), and Something Rotten! (set in Shakespeare's London). Disney's The Lion King also adapts Hamlet.

How do I see Shakespeare in the Park for free?

Free Shakespeare in the Park is produced each summer by The Public Theater at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. Tickets are distributed via lottery, and standard lottery entries can be made through TodayTix and The Public's website.