Hip to Hip has toured free Shakespeare through Queens parks for years, and Socrates Sculpture Park is its best room: an East River lawn scattered with monumental sculpture, the Manhattan skyline directly across the water, and no ticket booth anywhere. As You Like It is the comedy about people fleeing the city for a forest, which lands differently when you are watching it on a former landfill turned public art park. Bring a blanket and get there before the light goes.
What to expect
Seating is on the lawn, so people arrive with blankets, low chairs and picnics. The production plays in the round or thrust depending on the park layout, with actors using the open space rather than a proscenium. Expect a family-heavy, informal audience and ambient river sound under the performance.
Good to know
- The N and W to Broadway in Astoria is the closest subway, then walk toward the river
- Bring a blanket or low chair - all seating is on grass
- Arrive early for a spot with a clear sightline and good light
- Bug spray helps on a waterfront lawn in August
- The park is free and open, so you can walk the sculpture installations first
- Restrooms in the park are limited, so plan accordingly
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Common questions
Is it really free?
Yes. Hip to Hip's park performances and entry to Socrates Sculpture Park are both free.
Do I need to bring seating?
Yes - seating is on the lawn, so a blanket or low chair is recommended.
What if it rains?
Outdoor performances are weather dependent; check the park's channels the day of.
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