Richard III & Twelfth Night on Broadway

Two-time Tony Award-winner Mark Rylance (Jerusalem, Boeing-Boeing) will star in repertory on Broadway as the suddenly love struck noblewoman 'Olivia' in Twelfth Night and as the ruthless and conniving title monarch in Richard III.

The all-male Shakespeare's Globe productions of Twelfth Night and Richard III, which performed in London's West End earlier this year, will open on 10 Nov 2013 at the Belasco Theatre.

Twelfth Night will begin previews on 15 Oct 2013 and close on 02 Feb 201, while Richard III will preview from 19 Oct 2013 and close on 01 Feb 2013.

The plays, which will mark the Broadway debut for London's Shakespeare's Globe, will be staged in repertory, with six performances of Twelfth Night and two performances of Richard III a week (post opening), with the opportunity to see the two productions in one day on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

The shows producers commented,

These productions show how laugh-out-loud funny, thrillingly theatrical and immediate Shakespeare plays can be. To see Mark Rylance, who is one of the world's greatest, most accomplished and acclaimed stage actors, and the remarkable Shakespeare's Globe company in these two uniquely staged extraordinary productions is an unforgettable experience.

While the lovelorn Duke Orsino plots to win the heart of the mourning 'Olivia,' an alliance of servants and hangers-on scheme against the high handedness of Olivia's steward, the pompous 'Malvolio.' When 'Orsino' engages the cross-dressed 'Viola,' who has disguised herself as a young man under the name 'Cesario,' to plead with Olivia on his behalf, chaos ensues.

Richard III will star Mark Rylance in the title role, with Samuel Barnett as 'Queen Elizabeth.'

Richard, Duke of Gloucester, is determined that he should wear the crown of England. He has already dispatched one king and that king's son; now all that stands in his way are two credulous brothers and two helpless nephews - the Princes in the Tower.

Twelfth Night and Richard III played in repertoire at Shakespeare's Globe from 14 July - 14 October 2012, and later transferred to West End's Apollo Theatre from 2 Nov 2012 - 03 Feb 2013.

Both Shakespeare Globe productions opened in the West End to mostly rave reviews:

Twelfth Night: Tim Carroll's astute and meticulous production really is something very special. (londontheatre.co.uk); Rylance offers pure comic delight (Daily Telegraph).

Richard III: There is no denying the charismatic originality of Rylance's Richard (Daily Telegraph); The chameleon nature of the actor's genius is demonstrated by his equally mould-breaking portrayal of the title role in Richard III (Independent).

The productions offer the first opportunity for Broadway audiences to see Mark Rylance performing Shakespeare, for which he has earned such accolades as "our greatest living actor" (The Independent) and "the most exciting stage actor of his generation" (The Times).

From his early performances with the Royal Shakespeare Company to his 10 years as the first Artistic Director of Shakespeare's Globe (1995-2005), UK critics and audiences have celebrated Rylance for his performances in 'Hamlet,' 'Romeo and Juliet,' 'Henry V,' 'The Tempest,' 'Much Ado About Nothing,' 'Two Gentlemen of Verona' and 'As You Like It,' among others.

Playwright, screenwriter, actor, writer, poet, journalist, comedian, television personality Stephen Fry will make his Broadway acting debut as 'Malvolio' in Twelfth Night.

Tony Award-nominee Samuel Barnett (The History Boys) will appear as 'Viola' in Twelfth Night and 'Queen Elizabeth' in Richard III.

London's Shakespeare's Globe was founded by the pioneering American actor and director Sam Wanamaker. and is a reconstructed open-air theatre on the banks of the River Thames dedicated to the exploration of Shakespearean, Elizabethan, Jacobean, and contemporary theatre.