King Lear: Public announces additional casting

The Public Theater has announced additional casting for their production of William Shakespeare's King Lear, directed by James Macdonald, opening at the Newman Theater on 8 Nov 2011, following previews from 18 Oct, and closing on 20 Nov 2011.

Che Ayende (Duke of Burgundy/Knight/Servant), Craig Bockhorn (Doctor), Michael Crane (Oswald), Herb Foster (Old Man/Curan), Seth Gilliam (Edmund), Michael Izquierdo (King of France), Arian Moayed (Edgar), Kelli O'Hara (Regan) and Richard Topol (Albany) will join the previously announced Enid Graham (Goneril), Michael McKean (Gloucester), John Douglas Thompson (Kent) and Sam Waterston (Lear).

When King Lear divides his kingdom among his three daughters, he sets in motion a cascade of violence that sweeps the civilized world to the brink of chaos, and Lear to the edge of madness.

The design team includes Miriam Buether (set), Gabriel Berry (costume), Christopher Akerlind (lighting) and Darron L West (sound).

Bios:

James Macdonald (Director). In New York, Macdonald has directed 'The Book of Grace' (The Public), 'Top Girls' (MTC/Broadway), 'Drunk Enough to Say I Love You?' (The Public), 'Dying City' (Lincoln Center), 'A Number' (New York Theater Workshop) and '4.48 Psychosis' (St. Ann's Warehouse). From 1992 to 2006, Macdonald was associate director of the Royal Court, where he directed world premieres of work by writers including Caryl Churchill, Sarah Kane, Martin Crimp, and most recently Mike Bartlett's Cock.

Che Ayende (Duke of Burgundy/Knight/Servant) recently appeared in The Public Theater's Public Lab production of 'Timon of Athens.' His other Off-Broadway credits include 'The Day The Bronx Died,' 'Inked Baby,' 'Oroonoko,' and 'All's Well That Ends Well.'

Craig Bockhorn (Doctor) appeared at The Public Theater in 'The Seagull' and 'Kit Marlowe.' His Broadway credits include 'On Golden Pond' and 'Prelude to a Kiss.' His additional Off-Broadway credits include 'The Hope Zone' and 'The Truth-Teller.' He appeared in the film "Transamerica" and on television in "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and "Ed."

Michael Crane (Oswald) last appeared at The Public in 'Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson.' He also appeared Off-Broadway in 'Doris to Darlene, A Cautionary Valentine.

Herb Foster (Old Man/Curan) has appeared in several Public Theater productions, including 'The Merchant of Venice' (Broadway), 'Twelfth Night,' 'A Midsummer Night's Dream,' 'Macbeth,' 'As You Like It' and 'The Controversy of Valladolid.' His Broadway credits include 'Cymbeline,' 'The Rivals,' 'Kiss Me, Kate,' 'Amy's View' and 'Me and My Girl.' His television credits include "Spin City."

Seth Gilliam (Edmund) appeared in The Public's production of 'The Tragedy of Richard III.' His other theater credits include 'Iphigenia and Other Daughters,' 'Girl Gone' and 'The Maids.' Film and television credits include "Teen Wolf," "The Good Wife," "Skins," "Law & Order," "Nurse Jackie," and "Did You Hear About The Morgans?," with recurring roles on "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," "The Wire," and "Oz."

Enid Graham (Goneril) appeared on Broadway in 'Honour,' 'The Constant Wife,' 'Dinner at Eight' and 'Fortune's Fool.' She has appeared Off-Broadway in 'Some Americans Abroad,' 'The Long Christmas Ride Home' and 'Crimes of the Heart.' Her television and film credits include "Rose Van Alden" on HBO's "Boardwalk Empire," "The Good Wife," and "Blue Valentine."

Michael Izquierdo (King of France) appeared at the Delacorte Theater in 'Mother Courage and Her Children.' He appeared on Broadway in 'The Miracle Worker' and his Off-Broadway credits include 'Go Back To Where You Are' and 'New Jerusalem.' His film and television credits include "Taking Woodstock," "The Last Day of August," "Blue Bloods," and "As The World Turns."

Michael McKean (Gloucester) recently appeared on Broadway in Tracy Letts' 'Superior Donuts,' 'Hairspray' and 'The Homecoming.' McKean originated the role of "Lenny Kosnowski" on television's "Laverne and Shirley." He was a cast member on "Saturday Night Live" from 1994 to 1995. His select film credits include "This is Spinal Tap," "Clue," "Best in Show," "A Mighty Wind" and "For Your Consideration."

Arian Moayed (Edgar) appeared in The Public Theater's Public Lab production of 'The Fever Chart.' On Broadway he received a Tony Award nomination for his performance in 'Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo.' His other Off-Broadway credits include 'Masked,' 'Queens Boulevard,' 'American Pilot,' 'Homebody/Kabul' and 'Extra Key to Heaven.' His film and television credits include "Roadie," "The Christians," "Arranged" and "MONY."

Kelli O'Hara (Regan) has appeared on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning revival of 'South Pacific' at Lincoln Center, 'The Pajama Game,' 'The Light in the Piazza,' 'Dracula,' 'Sweet Smell of Success,' 'Follies' and 'Jekyll and Hyde.' Her film credits include "Sex and the City 2," "The Key to Reserva" and "The Dying Gaul."

John Douglas Thompson (Kent). His Broadway credits include 'Julius Caesar' and 'Cyrano de Bergerac.' He won an Obie and a Lortel Award for his portrayal of the title role in 'Othello' at Theatre for a New Audience. His other Off-Broadway credits include 'The Emperor Jones,' 'The Forest,' 'Antony and Cleopatra' and 'King Lear.'

Richard Topol (Albany) recently appeared on Broadway in 'The Normal Heart' and 'The Merchant of Venice.' His other Broadway credits include 'Awake and Sing!,' 'Cymbeline,' 'The Country Girl,' 'Julius Caesar' and 'School for Scandal.' His Off-Broadway credits include 'When The Rain Stops Falling,' 'Hamlet,' 'Mouth to Mouth' and 'Opus.' His film and television credits include "Mickey Blue Eyes," "Party Girl," "Damages," "Nurse Jackie" and "Rescue Me."

Sam Waterston (King Lear) has appeared in The Public Theater's productions of 'Hamlet' (Hamlet, Polonius), 'Much Ado About Nothing' (Leonato, Benedick), 'Measure for Measure' (Duke), 'Cymbeline' (Cloten), 'Henry VI Part 1' and 'Part 2' (Prince Hal), 'Ergo' (AsIan) and 'As You Like It' (Silvius). His film and television credits include "The Great Gatsby," "Serial Mom," "The Glass Menagerie," four Woody Allen films and "I'll Fly Away." Waterston is an Academy Award nominee for his work in The "Killing Fields," and he received an Emmy nomination and a Golden Globe Award for his work as "Jack McCoy" on "Law & Order."