To a theatergoer, nothing says "summer" like watching a show in the open air, especially when there's a bucolic setting of trees, pond and rocks — complete with a Victorian castle looming in the background — to make you forget you're in the middle of Manhattan. Mounted by the Public Theater, these Central Park productions are known for their offbeat casting, innovative staging, and general boundaries-breaking approach — and the current revival of The Bacchae is a perfect case in point: an Euripidean tragedy, set to new music by minimalist composer Philip Glass and starring Anthony Mackie of 8 Mile and The Hurt Locker. Admission is free, but if you don't want to brave the ticket lines — which can be considerable — you can reserve seats with a donation to the Public. Tickets & info: 212-967-7555