Masked, Socially Distanced Shakespeare Coming To Central Park

CENTRAL PARK, NY — All the world's a stage, at least as long as you wear a mask and maintain social distancing.

A new theater troupe is bringing Shakespeare back to Central Park, with performances of "As You Like It" set for the next two weekends.

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It just might not be the Shakespeare you're used to seeing as all performers will wear masks and maintain social distancing throughout the entirety of the show.

This Shakespeare comedy will get performed by Idle Playthings, a new Manhattan-based theater troupe that puts on socially-distant plays for free.

Here are the times and locations for the next five performances in Manhattan:

• Friday, Sept. 4: King Jagiello Monument in Central Park at 6:15 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 5: 105th Street Dog Run in Riverside Park at 2 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 6: Billings Lawn in Fort Tryon Park at 2 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 12: King Jagiello Monument in Central Park at 2 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 13: King Jagiello Monument in Central Park at noon.

The King Jagiello Monument is located around 79th Street near the center of Central Park.

Idle Playthings describes their performance of the classic Shakespeare comedy as an "innovative adaptation of 'As You Like It' performed entirely outside, bringing audiences to a socially distanced forest of Arden."

Seating for spectators will also be socially distanced.