Since the Public Theater’s first Shakespeare in the Park production 56 years ago, summers in New York have turned into an informal Bardfest. This year, the Public is offering a rotating bill of “The Winter’s Tale” and “The Merchant of Venice” at the Delacorte Theater through Aug. 1. Most of the cast does both shows, though Al Pacino sticks to “Merchant.” (For more info, see shakespeareinthepark.org.) But that’s hardly the only Shakespeare in town! Here’s what else is playing — times vary, so don’t forget to call ahead for scheduling and weather information.
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
The plot: This summer perennial takes place in a forest, plus it’s bawdy, funny, romantic and just plain weird — a magic potion that makes a fairy fall in love with a donkey is the least of it.
The players: They’re in modern dress — or is that undress? Expect vaguely futuristic leather-and-bustiers action (see above).
The place: The exotic reaches of Baruch College, just north of Gramercy Park. Thursday-Sunday through June 19, $25. Bernie West Theatre, 17 Lexington Ave.; 212-352-3101.
“The Comedy of Errors”
The plot: Two sets of identical twins create zany confusion.
The players: The Moose Hall Theatre Company brings out more short skirts and sandals than an Old Navy outlet. Makes sense: This play was inspired by ancient Rome’s Plautus — think “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.”
The place: The woodsy Inwood Hill Park peninsula, jutting out of northern Manhattan into Spuyten Duyvil Creek.
Wednesday-Saturday through June 19, free. Inwood Hill Park; 212-567-5255.
“Twelfth Night”
The plot: A noblewoman falls for a young dude who’s actually a lass in disguise. There are some long-lost twins, too.
The players: The Fiasco Theater Company is led by cool downtown-ish types, including co-director Ben Steinfeld, who until recently played James Monroe in the off-Broadway hit “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson.”
The place: For roughly the price of an IMAX movie, you get air-conditioned, live Shakespeare in a TriBeCa theater — instead of Shake and bake.
Wednesday-Sunday through June 20, $18. Access Theater, 380 Broadway; 212-868-4444.
“Richard III”
The plot: The deformed, power-hungry maniac of the title schemes and murders his way to the top — but it’s lonely and dangerous up there.
The players: Now in its 11th season of on-the-move productions, the New York Classical Theatre takes the audience along as scenes unfurl in various places in the park.
The place: Central Park, a couple of blocks north of the small artificial lake known as the Pool.
Thursday-Sunday through June 28, free. Central Park at West 103rd Street; 212-252-4531.
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
The plot: See box at left.
The players: Director Christopher Carter Sanderson first staged this production at Oslo’s International Theatre Academy Norway — and brought the cast back with him. But fear not, it’s in English.
The place: Gorilla Rep’s production starts a stone’s throw away from the Delacorte, then moves to various spaces, the audience close behind, so leave the stilettos at home.
Thursday-Sunday through June 28, free. Central Park’s Summit Rock, 83rd Street and Central Park West; 212-252-5258.
“Love’s Labour’s Lost”
The plot: A witty romp about noblemen who swear off women for three years. You can see where this is going.
The players: The Shakespeare in the Park(ing) Lot folks have been doing this for nearly 20 years now, so they know about a thing or two about summer Shakespeare. This time around, they reset the play as a reality-TV show about rival bands.
The place: More like an urban jungle than a park: The action takes place in a parking garage on the Lower East Side.
July 8-24, free. Ludlow and Broome streets, 212-873.9050.
“Much Ado About Nothing”
The plot: In this romantic comedy, Benedick and Beatrice keep bickering. Turns out, to no one’s great surprise, they actually love each other.
The players: The New York Classical Theatre comes back for its second production of the summer.
The place: The first half of the run takes place downtown, then the show moves to . . . Central Park, of course!
July 17-Aug 1, free. Battery Park City at Castle Clinton; 212-252-4531. Aug. 5-28, free. Central Park at West 103rd Street; 212-252-4531.
“Othello”
The plot: Jealousy drives a warrior to murder, with the intervention of a nasty piece of work named Iago.
The players: Stew and Heidi Rodewald, of Broadway’s “Passing Strange,” wrote the score.
The place: Estates by the Connecticut sound — one more reason to get thee to Grand Central Terminal and Metro-North.
Tuesday through June 26. Pinkney Park, Rowayton, Conn. July 2-11. Baldwin Park, Greenwich, Conn. shakespeareonthesound.org. $20 suggested donation per show.