theater and dance
'Othello' returnsShakespeare in the Park
Free
Through June 24
Delacorte Theatre, Central Park
publictheater.org/Free-Shakespeare-in-the-Park
For the first time since 1991, “Othello” is back this summer in Central Park. Tony winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson is directing the classic Shakespearean drama. Expect a lush, romantic and violent evening the park — and that's just the beginning, because a second show, “Twelfth Night,” opens on July 17 and runs through Aug. 19.
'Pretty' Karl on stage'Pretty Woman' on Broadway
Tickets: from $99
Nederlander Theatre
208 West 41st Street
You're wary of Broadway versions of old movies? Of course you are. It's a sign you're a New Yorker. But your out-of-town relatives and pals might want to know the Broadway summer news: “Pretty Woman” begins previews July 20. At least the heralded Andy Karl, who overcame injury to become a Tony-nominated phenom in last season's “Groundhog Day,” has recently been added to the cast. Samantha Barks has the Julia Roberts part.
Moving movementsBattery Dance Festival
Free
Aug. 12 to 17, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Robert F. Wagner Park in Battery Park City.
Closing, ticketed event: Aug. 18, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Schimmel Center at Pace University. Tickets for this night are available beginning Aug. 1.
batterydance.org/battery-dance-festival/
Established back in 1982, the Battery Dance Festival is the city's longest-running free public dance festival. An expected audience of more than 12,000 people this year will greet dancers from New York City, along with talents from Botswana, Canada, Gabon, Kazakhstan, Macedonia, Spain, Turkey and a collection of India's greatest Kathak dancers. Jonathan Hollander, artistic director of Battery Dance, says, “Having the opportunity to perform and teach around the world, it is only natural that we would bring back to our home in lower Manhattan the amazing treasures we discover overseas.”
Fabulous Fiddler“Fiddler on the Roof” at The National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene
$52 and up
July 4 though Aug. 26
Museum of Jewish Heritage, 36 Battery Place, Manhattan
Oscar- and Tony-winner Joel Grey gets the directing credit for a highly-anticipated new production of “Fiddler on the Roof.” The show's in Yiddish, with English and Russian supertitles. The emotions will be universal, if “Fiddler” stays true to form.