Listen to the words of Shakespeare on the lawn of a historic mansion overlooking the Hudson River. Chortle at a political satire created for “nerds, outcasts, and mad experimenters of theater.” Climb the stairs to a rooftop show and bob your head to the rhythm of Ky-Mani Marley. Plan a quick escape to one of these five theater shows near NYC that draw back the curtains at half the price of Broadway come summer.
Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival | Garrison
Take a millisecond Metro-North ride to see at least one of the three plays being performed by the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival this summer. Bring a bottle of wine and a picnic or buy one of the pre-made gourmet options to enjoy before the show or during intermission in the breathtaking backyard at Boscobel Mansion.
The Brick | Brooklyn
Get thee to The Brick for an unconventional theater experience. Every summer, The Brick produces The Summer Theme Festival Series.
The Gallery Players | Brooklyn
Looking to see quality theater without having to forgo food for a day? The Gallery Players is an award-winning theater company located in Park Slope. Mark your calendars for the 15th Annual Black Box New Play Festival (until June 24th) or Othello (July 19th-August 5th). Tickets are $18 for adults and $14 for children twelve and under and seniors.
Berkshire Theatre Group | Stockbridge, MA
See one of a dozen live theater and music events during the Berkshire Theatre Group’s summer season. Located at five different theaters in the Stockbridge, Pittsfield, and Lenox areas, the Berkshire Theatre Group’s award winning productions of classics and contemporary pieces are worth the trip. Tickets range from $20 to $75 depending on the venue and event.
Brooklyn Academy of Music | Brooklyn
BAM annually offers a smashing lineup of live theater, cinema, music, dance, art, and lectures. Get a taste of BAMcinemaFest, Next Wave Festival, and R&B Festival if you can.
Photos courtesy of respective theaters.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
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Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram