Is it really summer in NYC without Shakespeare in the Park? We’re about to find out. 

The Delacorte Theater—the Central Park sister to the Public Theater in the East Village—has been putting on free productions of the Bard’s plays every summer for the past six decades, with a musical adaptation of The Public’s The Tempest closing out the 2023 season next month, running in the 1,800-seat open-air theater for one week only from Sunday, August 27 through Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023.

RECOMMENDED: How to get free Shakespeare in the Park tickets

It won’t just be the final production of 2023 for the historic performance space; it will be the Delacorte’s final production for the next two years. That’s because the Public Theater, in partnership with Central Park Conservancy and the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, is embarking on a revitalization project of the 61-year-old theater, beginning in the fall of 2023 and reportedly culminating in time for the 2025 summer season. 

The project—which is estimated to cost $77 million, with $41 million contributed by the offices of the mayor, City Council and Manhattan borough president, another $1 million from the state budget and the remainder privately funded—was first announced back in December 2021 but the renovation faced pandemic-related delays. Proposed plans would benefit both the performers and the patrons: increased access for people living with disabilities, new audience seating, improved lighting, modernized back-of-house operations, among others. 

“Now, it is time for us to ensure that our beloved Delacorte will continue to be a home for artists and audiences for generations to come. This 18-month renovation will create a Delacorte that is more accessible, more sustainable, more able to create extraordinary theater, and more a palace for the people of this city than ever before,” said artistic director Oskar Eustis and executive director Patrick Willingham in a statement. 

“When we gather together in summer 2025, it will be at the magnificent, refreshed Delacorte Theater built by and for the people of New York, to be treasured as our shared home for Free Shakespeare in the Park for generations to come. We look forward to sharing it with you all.”

Check out renderings for the proposed new Delacorte Theater space below:

* This article was originally published here

Bow down, because the queen is here—well, Queen Bey, that is.

New Yorkers are gearing up for Beyoncé at MetLife Stadium, with the “CUFF IT” crooner bringing her Renaissance Tour to the East Rutherford venue on Saturday, July 29 and Sunday, July 30 (here’s how to get Beyoncé tickets, if you don’t have the already), but Bey fans can get an even earlier peek at the iconic performer at Madame Tussauds New York.

On Thursday, July 27, the wax museum debuted a brand-new iteration of Beyoncé’s wax figure (one that thankfully doesn’t make the list of the worst-looking wax sculptures at Madame Tussauds in NYC). The new statue is a recreation of the Queen Nefertiti-inspired look that the superstar wore during her historic Coachella performance from 2018 (Bey was the first Black woman to ever headline the music festival), including replicas of her Balmain bodysuit and coordinating cape, ornate headpiece, statement necklace, diamante earrings and metallic booties. The Beychella effect is complete with a commanding pose, accessorized with a cane. 

To successfully achieve Beyoncé’s likeness, the museum enlisted the efforts of 20 Madame Tussauds studio artists, sculptors and designers in London, who researched hundreds of images, videos and magazine spreads of the singer before completing the statue in six months. 

The wax figure is available for view at The Edge, the 100-story-high, glass-floored observation deck at Hudson Yards, the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere. It’s a fitting spot for someone whose success is as towering as Beyoncé’s. (The artist has sold over 200 million records worldwide and holds 32 Grammy Awards, the highest of any musician.) 

“As one of the most significant, influential performers of the 21st century, we wanted to capture one of Beyoncé’s most impactful moments in her inspiring career,” said Tiago Mogadouro, Head of Marketing at Madame Tussauds New York. “She’s a visionary in music, art and fashion and we felt her look at Coachella 2018 was an embodiment of her spirit as the ultimate entertainer. What better way to celebrate Beyoncé than to immortalize that moment in wax for fans to enjoy for years to come?”

* This article was originally published here

A new WalletHub analysis found that New Jersey has the United States’ third best school system. In a survey that looked at “performance, funding, safety, class size and instructor credentials,” the personal finance website found that New Jersey has the fourth lowest dropout rate, its students post the second highest reading scores, and the state has the fifth best pupil-to-teacher ratio.

Tyrone C. Howard, the director of UCLA’s School of Education & Information Studies, told WalletHub that “per-pupil spending is a factor, but not the biggest factor in defining school quality.

“I think taking a closer look at how funding is being spent matters. It is also important to look at larger contextual factors within a given community to determine school quality,” continued Howard.. “Access to resources, affordable housing, transportation, and environmental factors all influence school quality.”

The post NJ schools rank No. 3 in nation appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.

* This article was originally published here