The Public Theater is rolling back into Queens this June for another season of free mobile tours, presenting a family-friendly production of Much Ado About Nothing as part of its annual series.
Now in its 15th year, the Mobile Unit continues its mission to make great theater accessible to all by staging free performances in parks, correctional facilities, and community spaces across the five boroughs. This summer, Queens audiences can catch the show at popular venues including The Queens Night Market, A.R.R.O.W. Field House, Roy Wilkins Park and Travers Park.
“Fifteen years ago, we revived the Mobile Unit and re-established its position as central to our identity,” said Oskar Eustis, the artistic director. “Of all our programs, only the Mobile Unit has an audience that exactly matches the demographics of New York City. It truly is a theater for the people.”
The Mobile Unit was founded by Joe Papp in 1957 to provide theatre to all communities, which, over time, expanded to programs such as Free Shakespeare in the Park, The Delacorte, The Public Theater, Joe’s Pub, and an assortment of other arts and cultural initiatives throughout the city. The Mobile Unit, which was brought back in 2010, continues to be a must-see experience for all ages. The Public Theater ‘s productions have been enjoyed by guests throughout the city, as well as throughout the country and on a global scale. The group have been the recipients of honors such as 64 Tony Awards, 195 Obie Awards, 62 Drama Desk Awards, 63 Lortel Awards, 36 Outer Critic Circle Awards, 13 New York Drama Critics’ Circle
Awards, 70 AUDELCO Awards, 6 Antonyo Awards, and 6 Pulitzer Prizes.
This year, Much Ado About Nothing will be adapted to a 90-minute family-friendly production. The show will blend Latin influences, original music, and Shakespeare’s sense of humor. The production will be presented primarily in English, with some Spanish language incorporated. Original songs and music were composed by Julian Mesri, including additional lyrics by Rebecca Martinez, who is also directing the production. The show marks the third year in a row that the duo will work together to adapt the play to the perfect outdoor production.
“Rebecca and Julian understand the flexibility required for the same show to be transformative in a small community center and for a thousand people in a park,” said Pablo Hernandez Basulto, the director of civic artistic programs. “ I can’t wait to see neighbors once again gathering shoulder to shoulder, ready to be entertained.”
Preview performances begin at Astor Place on May 29, followed by stops across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Staten Island. The Queens leg of the tour kicks off on Friday, June 20, with additional performances on June 21, 22, and 27, including a special stop at The Queens Night Market in Corona on June 21.
The Mobile Unit’s Queens performances will take place across four locations: A.R.R.O.W. Field House in Astoria on June 20, Queens Night Market in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park on June 21, Roy Wilkins Park in St. Albans on June 22, and Travers Park in Jackson Heights on June 27—offering residents in multiple neighborhoods a chance to enjoy the free production close to home.
For more information and a full schedule of tour dates, visit The Public Theater’s website.
