Prokofiev wrote Peter and the Wolf to teach children what an oboe sounds like, and hearing it staged outdoors by Queens College performers — with the duck, the cat and the wolf each getting their theme — is how the piece is meant to land. NYC Parks runs it free in neighborhood parks, so a Bayside ballfield lawn becomes a proper theatre for an hour. If you have a kid who will not sit still indoors, an hour on the grass with a wolf hunt is an easy sell.
What to expect
Look for the green park tent on the grass near Ballfield 6 — that is the stage marker. Families arrive with blankets and low chairs and settle in a loose semicircle. The performance runs about an hour and is pitched at children, with the storytelling carrying the musical themes.
Good to know
- Bring a lawn chair or blanket — no seating is set out
- Look for the green park tent on the grass near Ballfield 6
- No RSVP is required; the performance is free and open to all
- The Q31 and Q76 buses serve Bayside near the park; street parking is usually available
- Best suited to younger children and their grown-ups
- It is an outdoor performance, so sun protection is worth packing
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Common questions
Who performs it?
Artists from Queens College stage the production as part of NYC Parks' free summer theatre programming.
Do I need to reserve a spot?
No RSVP is needed. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and arrive before the start.
Where in John Golden Park is it?
On the grass close to Ballfield 6 — look for the green park tent.
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