Are you getting tickets to the upcoming season? Because if not, you should give your ticket to me.

Happening in the World: Scientists at the University of Surrey are embarking on a trial for a potentially life-saving vaccine to protect elephants against elephant endotheliotropic herpes virus. The virus, discovered in 1990, has an 85% mortality rate, and the disease has caused 52% of deaths of Asian elephants in European zoos since 1985. Researchers developing the vaccine are seeking to prevent severe disease and death among the youngest elephants, the population group most affected by this virus. (BBC)

Happening in the US: Yesterday, New York State’s Democratic-led legislature adopted an aggressive reorganization of the state’s congressional districts, positioning them to flip three seats in the House this year. These bold redistricting moves would shape New York races for the next decade, particularly in districts in Staten Island, Long Island, and upstate New York. Legal experts have expressed criticism over the new district lines as partisan gerrymandering while Republicans threatened to challenge the map in court under new anti-gerrymandering provisions in New York’s Constitution. (NYT)

Happening in NYC: On Wednesday, the Public Theater announced its Shakespeare In The Park lineup for this summer’s 60th anniversary season. Taking place at The Delacorte Theater in Central Park, the free annual event’s schedule includes Richard III, starring Black Panther star Danai Gurira, and a musical adaptation of As You Like It. This upcoming season will welcome masked audiences back at full capacity with proof of COVID-19 vaccination and a booster dose, a contrast from the reduced-capacity crowds of last summer’s production of The Merry Wives of Windsor. (Gothamist)

Happening in our Community: Today from 1 to 2 pm, Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs will host a conversation with Sima Bahous, the Executive Director of UN Women. In the talk, Bahous will join Professor Yasmine Ergas and Professor Daniel Naujoks to share her vision for the UN’s gender agenda and the challenges of creating a real impact for women and girls. Sign up for this virtual event here.

Shakespeare In The Park 2021 via Wikimedia