NY Attorney General Cracks Down On Scalpers Selling Free Ticket to Shakespeare in The Park

As reported by the Daily News, the Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is 'cracking down' on scalpers selling the free tickets to Shakespeare in the Park this summer. Free tickets to the Shakespeare In the Park productions are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis beginnning in the early afternoon. Last summer, patrons were lined up as early as 4am to secure their spot in line for.

The Public Theatre found that many people were waiting in line for tickets only to later sell them on Cragslist.com for up to $125. Cuomo tells the Daily News: "Selling tickets that are meant to be free deprives New Yorkers of enjoying the benefits that this taxpayer-supported institution provides."

Candi Adams, spokeswoman for The Public Theatre also commented to The Daily News saying: "They are taking a spot away and a ticket away from somebody who wants to be there and is eager to see a production of Shakespeare in the Park."

One scalper responded by email to the News saying "I don't see any problem with offering free tickets for a price, especially for such an event like this...""It's very popular and a staple of summer in N.Y.C. Also, who wants to wait in line for seven hours for tickets? A lot of people are extremely busy."

Cuomo is working with Craigslist.com to ban all ads for pricey tickets. Craigslist.com is also working on creating a filter to keep out all ads selling high priced tickets to shows.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) began Shakespeare in the Park performances on Thursday, June 10 with the first preview of THE WINTER'S TALE, directed by Michael Greif. THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, directed by Daniel Sullivan, will begin performances on Saturday, June 12. Both shows will play in repertory through Sunday, August 1 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park.

The free tickets to Shakespeare in the park are distributed two per person, at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park at 1 p.m. the day of the show. This summer, The Public Theater will again offer free tickets through our Virtual Ticketing, available at www.shakespeareinthepark.org.

Virtual Ticketing will be the same as last year where on the day of a show, users can log on to our website anytime between midnight and 1 p.m. to register for that evening's performance. After 1 p.m. that same day, users can log on to see if they have received tickets through Virtual Ticketing; Recipients will also be sent a confirmation email by 5 p.m. if they have received tickets for that evening's performance. Virtual Ticketing recipients are chosen at random to receive tickets, not in the order requests are received.

Participants with a Virtual Ticketing confirmation can claim their tickets at the Delacorte Theater Box Office between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. that evening. Any tickets not picked up by 7 p.m. will be released to the standby line. A valid photo ID is required for all Virtual Ticketing pick-ups at the box office.

Senior Virtual Ticketing will also return this year; it functions the same way as the regular virtual ticketing but registrants must be 65 or older to be eligible and present valid photo ID with proof of age.

In addition to the ticket line at the Delacorte Theater and Virtual Ticketing online, a limited number of vouchers for specific performances will be distributed, while supplies last, at locations throughout New York's five boroughs. Each person in line is allowed two vouchers and each voucher is good for one ticket for that evening's performance. Vouchers must be exchanged for tickets at the Delacorte Theater Box Office that day from 4:00-7:30 PM.

For THE WINTER'S TALE ticket vouchers will be distributed, while supplies last, on Thursday, June 10 in The Bronx at Lehman Stages at Lehman College (250 Bedford Park Boulevard West ); Wednesday, June 16 in Staten Island at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center (100 Richmond Terrace); Saturday, June 19 in Queens at the Chocolate Factory Theater (549 49th Avenue, Long Island City); Tuesday, June 29 in Manhattan at Harlem Stage at The Gatehouse (150 Convent Avenue at West 135th Street); and on Friday, July 2 in Brooklyn at the Brooklyn Children's Museum (145 Brooklyn Avenue).

For THE MERCHANT OF VENICE ticket vouchers will be distributed, while supplies last, on Saturday, June 12 in Manhattan at Harlem Stage at The Gatehouse; Thursday, June 17 in The Bronx at Lehman Stages at Lehman College; Friday, June 18 in Brooklyn at the Brooklyn Children's Museum; Friday, June 25 in Staten Island at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center; and Saturday, June 26 in Queens at the Chocolate Factory Theater.

In the tradition of Joe Papp, Summer Supporter tickets for THE WINTER'S TALE and THE MERCHANT OF VENICE are available in packages of two tickets for a tax-deductible contribution of $350. The two tickets can be used in any combination for this summer's Shakespeare in the Park productions. These reserved seats are only available for a limited time to ensure that the highest number of free seats will be available to distribute to the general public on the day of the show. Summer Supporter tickets help to underwrite free Shakespeare in the Park.

Summer Supporter donations can be made at The Public Theater Box Office at 425 Lafayette Street or online at www.publictheater.org. Beginning this summer, seating locations for Summer Supporters and Public Theater Partners will be allocated strictly by giving level.

In the event of rain, the start of the performance may be delayed. However, the production will be performed if and when it is possible to do so. Please be aware that rain at 7:30 PM may clear by the start of the show, and no performance will be cancelled before 8 :00 PM. If a performance is canceled due to rain or any other reason, tickets obtained via the line at the Delacorte Theater or through Virtual Ticketing are not valid for re-issue or exchange.

For additional information about Shakespeare in the Park, visit www.shakespeareinthepark.org or call (212) 539-8750.

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

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