Arthur Miller once quipped that good artists are greeted with applause, great artists with pitchforks. If controversy is in fact a necessary ingredient in the best art, then the Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park summer series has perfected the recipe. Their recent production of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar drew national attention when folks noted that the doomed dictator bore an uncanny likeness to a certain Celebrity Apprentice President of the United States. Julius Caesar is no longer showing, but if you come to Central Park’s open-air theater, The Delacorte, between July 11 and August 13, you’ll be treated to one of the most enchanting performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream ever to grace a stage. Shows at Shakespeare in the Park typically start at 8 P.M. Tuesdays through Sundays, and despite the stellar production values (and the company’s tendency to cast Hollywood heavyweights), tickets are always free. For more info on how to get your seats for this summer’s dreamiest eve, check out Shakespeare in the Park’s website here.

Address: 81 Central Park West, New York, NY 10023