NYC’s Best Outdoor Theater Performances Are Worth A Standing Ovation — See The 2025 Lineup

All the city’s a stage come **summertime**, and there are plenty of outdoor theater performances to whet your appetite. Whether you’re looking for a bit of **Broadway**in the park or want to dive into Shakespeare’s best works, the 2025 lineup certainly delivers. For more on what to expect and where — plus a guide to what’s free vs. what’s ticketed — allow us to give you a hand. Now, without further ado — a round of applause for our selections. Shakespeare In The Park --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- August 7th marks the return of Shakespeare in the Park *.* The newly renovated **Delacorte Theater**, which features upgrades to the tune of $85 million, will host a star-studded lineup for *Twelfth Night *, which focuses on shipwrecked twins, Sebastian and Viola.Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Peter Dinklage, Lupita Nyong’o, and Sandra Oh will star in the play, and the entire city is buzzing with excitement over this year’s lineup. The show runs until September 14th, and admits show-goers for free, but snagging a seat isn’t always easy. Learn how to get tickets via **The Public Theater’s website**. Broadway in Bryant Park ----------------------- The Great White Way sets up shop in Bryant Park every summer, and those wandering through Midtown can stop for free theater. What’s better than that? The last show of the season, *Disney on Broadway*, will kickstart at 12:30pm on July 31st and feature your favorite pieces from ***Aladdin*, *Beauty and the Beast*, and *The Lion King*. You might want to arrive when the park opens around 11am — spots fill up very quickly! [ Learn more online](https://bryantpark.org/activities/broadway-in-bryant-park). [Little Island Summer Lineup](https://secretnyc.co/little-island-summer-programming-2025/) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From June until September, the beloved floating Little Island makes a mission to provide NYC with accessible arts and entertainment. For just $25, park-goers have the opportunity to take in a wide range of performances: dance, theater, opera, and beyond. The season has 110 shows lined up, so there’s sure to be one to suit your fancy. Eric Ting’s *Galas* closes out the season in September (September 6th to 28th). [Get tickets and see the schedule online](https://www.todaytix.com/nyc/category/little-island). [Sugar, Sugar at Domino Park](https://secretnyc.co/sugar-sugar-performing-arts-series-domino-park/) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Domino Park debuted a new waterfront experience, Sugar, Sugar, this year — a combination of music, dance, theater, and puppetry spread out across four weeks. Although the series wrapped up in June, we’re hopeful about a return in 2026. Be sure to explore all of the [ live shows taking place in NYC**](https://feverup.com/en/new-york/theater-comedy-shows)this summer — indoors and outdoors! Source: https://secretnyc.co/outdoor-theater-performances-nyc-2025-lineup/