{"id":2638,"date":"2025-02-19T03:57:14","date_gmt":"2025-02-19T08:57:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brooklyn-trend.com\/?p=2638"},"modified":"2025-02-19T03:57:15","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T08:57:15","slug":"moliere-in-the-park-a-brooklyn-theater-open-to-all","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brooklyn-trend.com\/en\/eternal-2638-moliere-in-the-park-a-brooklyn-theater-open-to-all","title":{"rendered":"Moliere in the Park \u2013 A Brooklyn Theater Open to All"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>For many years, New York City&#8217;s parks have welcomed both large and small theater troupes. The warm summer months, which are ideal for outdoor movies and concerts, also provide the perfect setting for open-air theater, allowing directors and actors to reconnect with the roots of theater, dating back to when the ancient Greeks staged tragedies and comedies outdoors. Even the famous Globe Theatre, where Shakespeare&#8217;s plays debuted, was an open-air venue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So while the sound of jet engines or helicopters overhead in a park theater may seem disruptive, it&#8217;s important to remember that the tradition of outdoor theater spans over 2,000 years. Read more about Brooklyn\u2019s park theater at <a href=\"https:\/\/brooklyn-trend.com\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/brooklyn-trend.com\/\">brooklyn-trend.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a0b06570c67a\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a0b06570c67a\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/brooklyn-trend.com\/en\/eternal-2638-moliere-in-the-park-a-brooklyn-theater-open-to-all\/#A_Theatrical_Tradition_in_NYC_Parks\" >A Theatrical Tradition in NYC Parks<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/brooklyn-trend.com\/en\/eternal-2638-moliere-in-the-park-a-brooklyn-theater-open-to-all\/#The_Traveling_Drama_Program\" >The Traveling Drama Program<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/brooklyn-trend.com\/en\/eternal-2638-moliere-in-the-park-a-brooklyn-theater-open-to-all\/#Moliere_in_the_Park\" >Moliere in the Park<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/brooklyn-trend.com\/en\/eternal-2638-moliere-in-the-park-a-brooklyn-theater-open-to-all\/#Expanding_Its_Reach\" >Expanding Its Reach<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Theatrical_Tradition_in_NYC_Parks\"><\/span>A Theatrical Tradition in NYC Parks<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1109\" height=\"611\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.brooklyn-trend.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2025\/02\/1-3.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2639\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.brooklyn-trend.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2025\/02\/1-3.png 1109w, https:\/\/cdn.brooklyn-trend.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2025\/02\/1-3-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.brooklyn-trend.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2025\/02\/1-3-768x423.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.brooklyn-trend.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2025\/02\/1-3-696x383.png 696w, https:\/\/cdn.brooklyn-trend.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2025\/02\/1-3-1068x588.png 1068w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1109px) 100vw, 1109px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Over time, theater performances in New York City&#8217;s parks became commonplace, especially as the cultural initiatives of the Parks Department expanded throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Alongside the enjoyment of open space, fresh air, and the tranquility of nature, the opportunity to experience outdoor theater became a New York tradition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Technological advancements, such as stage lighting, played a significant role in popularizing these performances. One of the largest early events took place in 1912 in Central Park\u2019s Sheep Meadow, gathering 5,000 children from across the city, dressed in costumes representing different cultures worldwide. The event was made even more spectacular by the use of over 10,000 red, white, and blue lights strung among the trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During the Great Depression, the government aimed to provide free entertainment for struggling city residents. Federal relief programs funded the arts, and city parks\u2014democratic spaces open to all\u2014became the perfect venues for bringing culture to a wider audience. This was an era when Mayor Fiorello La Guardia read Sunday comics to children on the city radio station, and unemployed musicians performed free concerts in all five boroughs. In the same way, actors and theater companies staged performances in the parks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Traveling_Drama_Program\"><\/span>The Traveling Drama Program<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"943\" height=\"613\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.brooklyn-trend.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2025\/02\/2-3.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2642\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.brooklyn-trend.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2025\/02\/2-3.png 943w, https:\/\/cdn.brooklyn-trend.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2025\/02\/2-3-300x195.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.brooklyn-trend.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2025\/02\/2-3-768x499.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.brooklyn-trend.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2025\/02\/2-3-696x452.png 696w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 943px) 100vw, 943px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1934, La Guardia launched the &#8220;Traveling Drama Program,&#8221; which staged plays through the Drama Division of the Department of Public Welfare. Five performances were held six days a week across all five boroughs, totaling 30 different locations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first production, Uncle Tom\u2019s Cabin, premiered at Thomas Jefferson Park in Manhattan. That same summer, performances were also staged at Tompkins Park in Brooklyn, Franz Sigel Park in the Bronx, and Silver Lake Park on Staten Island, among other locations. Officials from the Department of Social Welfare estimated that by the end of the 1934 season, Harriet Beecher Stowe\u2019s play had been watched by 250,000 people, with audiences ranging from 3,000 to an impressive 18,000 spectators per show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Following the success of the 1934 season, vaudeville and circus performers petitioned to be included in future programs. The initiative expanded to feature Gilbert and Sullivan\u2019s The Pirates of Penzance at Owl\u2019s Head Park in Brooklyn, as well as vaudeville performances at Silver Lake Park on Staten Island. According to the Works Progress Administration (WPA), in 1935 alone, over 1.8 million people attended theatrical productions in New York City parks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Moliere_in_the_Park\"><\/span>Moliere in the Park<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Until recently, Brooklyn lacked one key element that every global cultural center should have\u2014a free, high-quality annual theater program accessible to all borough residents. Moliere in the Park was created to fill that gap, particularly by expanding access for underserved communities who often face mobility barriers or cannot afford theater tickets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moliere in the Park was founded with the mission of offering free theater for all, strengthening social and emotional connections across Brooklyn\u2019s diverse communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Located in Prospect Park\u2019s southeastern corner, the theater is conveniently accessible from various neighborhoods across Brooklyn. The company is committed to inclusive, free performances that explore human nature and relationships in ways that foster empathy rather than division\u2014enhancing Brooklyn\u2019s sense of community through the arts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, Moliere in the Park is an anti-racist theater organization, and its casting and hiring decisions reflect these values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Theater has the power to influence intellect and emotions, which in turn inspire ideas and discussions. It preserves history, challenges bias, stimulates empathy, and encourages civic engagement. By offering free, accessible performances, Moliere in the Park helps cultivate a thriving, socially engaged community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Expanding_Its_Reach\"><\/span>Expanding Its Reach<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Moliere in the Park has ambitious plans for growth, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>21 performances of its mainstage production, reaching 5,000 audience members\u2014a 67% increase compared to previous years.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>5 student matinees for 1,000 students from 12 public middle schools\u2014more than double the number of teenage attendees compared to 2022.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>3 staged readings and workshop productions, engaging an additional 600 spectators.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>By expanding access to free, high-quality theater, Moliere in the Park continues its mission of bringing the performing arts to all Brooklyn residents, ensuring that theater remains an essential part of the community.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For many years, New York City&#8217;s parks have welcomed both large and small theater troupes. The warm summer months, which are ideal for outdoor movies and concerts, also provide the perfect setting for open-air theater, allowing directors and actors to reconnect with the roots of theater, dating back to when the ancient Greeks staged tragedies [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":422,"featured_media":2645,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[156],"tags":[1281,1275,1271,1279,1270,1277,1274,1272,1282,1280,1284,1273,1276,1278,1283],"motype":[160],"moformat":[20],"moimportance":[32,35],"class_list":{"0":"post-2638","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-teatrs","8":"tag-brooklyn-arts-scene","9":"tag-brooklyn-cultural-events","10":"tag-brooklyn-theater-2","11":"tag-community-theater-brooklyn","12":"tag-free-theater-nyc","13":"tag-french-theater-nyc","14":"tag-inclusive-theater-nyc","15":"tag-moliere-in-the-park-3","16":"tag-new-york-city-theater","17":"tag-nyc-public-performances","18":"tag-open-air-performances","19":"tag-outdoor-theater-nyc","20":"tag-park-performances","21":"tag-prospect-park-theater","22":"tag-shakespeare-in-the-park","23":"motype-eternal","24":"moformat-vlasna","25":"moimportance-golovna-novyna","26":"moimportance-retranslyacziya-v-agregatory"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/brooklyn-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2638","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/brooklyn-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/brooklyn-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brooklyn-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/422"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brooklyn-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2638"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/brooklyn-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2638\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2648,"href":"https:\/\/brooklyn-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2638\/revisions\/2648"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brooklyn-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2645"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/brooklyn-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2638"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brooklyn-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2638"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brooklyn-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2638"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brooklyn-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=2638"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brooklyn-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=2638"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brooklyn-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=2638"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}