Final week of Julius Caesar + Bandshell season opens: Mon May 18 – Sun May 24

Hey theater fans,

Sunday-evening edition, looking at the week starting tomorrow. Julius Caesar enters its final stretch at The Pool. The Bandshell wakes up Saturday with the Salsa Dura Social — the outdoor performance season formally opens. Two big anchor moments in one week.

Weather this week

Hot and sunny Mon–Tue with Tuesday at 93°F, Wednesday-evening thunderstorms, then cool and damp Thursday on with rain likely Saturday. Bring water to any outdoor performance Mon–Tue — The Pool has limited shade. Saturday’s Bandshell opener is at meaningful rain risk; watch for postponement notices Friday/Saturday.

Julius Caesar — final stretch at The Pool (closes Sat May 30)

Final performances at The Pool Lawns before the production closes. This week’s schedule:

• Mon 5/18 — performing (86°F — bring water)
• Tue 5/19 — DARK (smart call given 93°F)
• Wed 5/20 — performing, storms after 4 PM; afternoon shows at risk
• Thu 5/21 — performing in much cooler air (70°F)
• Fri 5/22 — DARK
• Sat 5/23 — performing; outdoor staging affected by likely rain
• Sun 5/24 — performing

Best calm-night performance this week: Thursday May 21. Cool, dry, end-of-week air, no rain. If you’ve been putting off seeing the production, Thursday is the pick.

Sat May 23, 5–7:30 PM — Salsa Dura Social at Bandshell

The 2026 Bandshell season formally opens with Salsa Dura. The original heavy-hitting NYC salsa style — dance floor + DJ + live elements. Free, plaza dancing in front of the shell.

The shell covers performers but the plaza is open to the sky. Saturday’s rain forecast means possible postponement to the following weekend. Watch the Bandshell’s social channels Friday evening for updates.

Sat May 23 — also worth catching (rain permitting)

• That Guitar Man at Hernshead, noon–6 PM — solo guitar performance, very much theater-of-place. Cancels in steady rain.
• Julius Caesar matinee + evening at The Pool — last Saturday in the run

Sun May 24, 11 AM–7 PM — Folkdancers at King Jagiallo

Central Park International Folkdancers at King Jagiallo Plaza. Costumed traditional dance with live music — closer to dance theater than concert. Drop in any afternoon hour.

Looking ahead

• May 28–30 — Barefoot Shakespeare opens at the Bandshell (immediately after Salsa Dura)
• Jun 2–10 — “Julius Caesar 2 of 2” begins at The Pool (a second production claims the space immediately)
• The Public Theater’s Delacorte Shakespeare in the Park season usually starts early June

Quick recap

Final Julius Caesar week Dark Tue 5/19 and Fri 5/22. Best calm-night pick: Thu 5/21 (70°F, no rain).

Sat 5/23, 5–7:30 PM — Salsa Dura at Bandshell (season opener — rain pending)

Sat 5/23, noon–6 PM — That Guitar Man at Hernshead (rain dependent)

Sun 5/24, 11 AM–7 PM — Folkdancers at King Jagiallo

Save the date — Barefoot Shakespeare May 28–30; Julius Caesar #2 starts June 2

See you at The Pool one last time, The Central Park Guide