Shakespeare in the Park: Additional casting announced

The Public Theater have announced additional casting for their upcoming 2015 Shakespeare in the Park season, which continues a 53-year tradition of free theatre in Central Park's Delacorte Theatre. This season's productions are, as previously reported, The Tempest directed by Michael Greif and Cymbeline directed by Daniel Sullivan.

The Tempest begins previews on 27 May 2015, with an official opening on 16 June, and a limited run through to 5 July 2015.

Emmy nominee Jesse Tyler Ferguson will play Trinculo in The Tempest, which also features Academy Award nominee Sam Waterston (Prospero), Whitney Bashor (Juno), Louis Cancelmi (Caliban), Francesca Carpanini (Miranda), Nicholas Christopher (Boatswain, Spirit), Olga Karmansky (Iris), Tamika Lawrence (Ceres), Danny Mastrogiorgio (Stephano), Charles Parnell (Alonso), Chris Perfetti (Ariel), Rodney Richardson (Ferdinand), Cotter Smith (Antonio), and Bernard White (Gonzalo), with Jordan Barrow, Chloe Fox, Thomas Gibbons, Sunny Hitt, Brandon Kalm, Rico Lebron, Suki Lopez, and Matthew Oaks.

Synopsis: "Shakespeare's classic about young love, old enemies, and the eternal magic of storytelling. Exiled to a fantastical island, Prospero unleashes a churning storm to shipwreck the traitor brother who stole his throne and settle the score once and for all. But bitter revenge is upended by newfound love in this sublime masterpiece that proves we are all such stuff as dreams are made on."

The creative team for The Tempest features scenic design by Riccardo Hernandez, costumes by Emily Rebholz, lighting by David Lander, sound design by Acme Sound Partners, soundscape by Matt Tierney, original music by Michael Friedman, and choreography by Denis Jones.

Cymbeline has added three performances and will now begin previews on 23 July 2015, with an official opening on 10 August, and a limited run through to 23 August 2015.

Tony nominee Lily Rabe and Obie Award winner Hamish Linklater have been cast as Imogen and Leonatus/Cloten, respectively, in Cymbeline, with additional casting to be announced in the coming weeks.

Synopsis: "Princess Imogen's fidelity is put to the royal test when her disapproving father banishes her soul mate. Cross-dressing girls and cross-dressing boys, poisons and swordfights and dastardly villains all take the stage in this enchanting romp about the conquering power of love."

The creative team for Cymbeline features scenic design by Riccardo Hernandez, costumes by David Zinn, lighting by David Lander, sound design by Acme Sound Partners, original music by Tom Kitt, and choreography by Mimi Lieber.

Since 1962, over five million people have enjoyed more than 150 free productions of Shakespeare and other classical works and musicals at the Delacorte Theater. Conceived by founder Joe Papp as a way to make theatre accessible to all, The Public's free Shakespeare in the Park continues to be the bedrock of the Company's mission to increase access and engage the community.

Tickets to The Public Theater's free Shakespeare in the Park are distributed, two per person, at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park on the day of the show.

- by Tom Millward