Shakespeare in the Park: cast announced

The Public Theater's has announced the cast for their 2011 Shakespeare in the Park summer season featuring Measure for Measure directed by David Esbjornson, and All's Well That Ends Well, directed by Daniel Sullivan, running in repertory from 6 Jun - 30 Jul 2011 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park

The 2011 repertory company for Measure for Measure and All's Well That Ends Well consecutively, includes John Cullum (Escalus/King of France), Diane Davis (Juliet/Diana), Carson Elrod (Pompey/Interpreter), Joe Forbrich (Friar/Duke of Florence), Danai Gurira (Isabella in Measure for Measure), Michael Hayden (Angelo/Second Brother Dumaine), André Holland (Claudio/Bertram), Jordan Lund (Abhorson/Rinaldo), David Manis (Elbow/Lavatch), Dakin Matthews (Provost/Lafew), Caitlin O'Connell (Nun/Widow), Annie Parisse (Mariana/Helena), Lorenzo Pisoni (Duke/First Brother Dumaine), Reg Rogers (Lucio/Parolles), Lucas Caleb Rooney (Barnadine/Gentleman) and Tonya Pinkins (Mistress Overdone/Countess).

"Last year's experiment in rep was a brilliant success, allowing us to create an acting company of unparalleled depth and ability, and giving us two wonderful productions, 'The Merchant of Venice' and 'The Winter's Tale'," said Public Theater Artistic Director Oskar Eustis. "This year, we are tackling two of the lesser-known jewels of the canon. Once again we are creating a repertory company, building on last summer's success and on our conviction that long-term artistic collaborations create the richest theatrical productions."

All's Well That Ends Well is a fairytale for grown-ups. This beguiling fable follows the low-born Helena, one of Shakespeare's most resourceful heroines, as she inventively surmounts obstacle after impossible obstacle in order to win the love of the aristocratic and haughty Count Bertram.

Measure for Measure sweeps from the corridors of national power to the intimate confines of the bedroom, and from the convent's chapel to the executioner's block.

Bios:

John Cullum (Escalus/King of France) last appeared at Shakespeare in the Park as the 'King of France' in 'King Lear' in 1962. He was most recently seen on Broadway last fall in 'The Scottsboro Boys.' The two-time Tony Award-winner and inductee into the Theatre Hall of Fame has been in over 19 stage productions in the last 50 years. His select television credits include "Northern Exposure," "Mad Men," "ER," and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit."

Diane Davis (Juliet/Diana) has appeared on Broadway in 'Old Acquaintances' and 'Festen' and Off-Broadway in 'Regrets Only.' Her television credits include "Fringe," "All My Children," "Without a Trace," and "Law & Order."

Carson Elrod (Pompey/Interpreter) recently appeared in The Public Theater's The Mobile Unit production of 'Measure for Measure.' Other New York stage credits include 'Peter and the Starcatcher,' 'Based on a Totally True Story,' 'House,' 'Reckless,' 'Noises Off,' 'Cavedweller', 'Garden' and 'Comic Potential.' His select film and television credits include "Wedding Crashers," "Kissing Jessica Stein," "30 Rock," "Medium," "Out of Practice," and "Law & Order: Criminal Intent."

Joe Forbrich (Friar/Duke of Florence) previously appeared at The Public in 'Stuff Happens.' His Off-Broadway credits include 'Measure for Measure,' 'A Soldier's Play' and 'Rose Rage.' For years, he played 'Detective Joe Cormack' on "Law & Order." Other film and television credits include "My Own Love Song," "The Sopranos," "Conviction," and "As the World Turns."

Danai Gurira (Isabella in 'Measure for Measure') appeared on Broadway in Joe Turner's Come and Gone. She appeared Off-Broadway in In The Continuum, which she also co-authored. Her film and television credits include Restless City, My Soul To Take, "Lie To Me," "Treme," and "Law & Order."

MICHAEL HAYDEN (Angelo/Second Brother Dumaine) has appeared on Broadway in 'Carousel,' 'Judgment at Nuremberg,' 'Henry IV,' 'Enchanted April' and 'Festen.' Other New York credits include 'Dessa Rose,' 'Far East,' 'All My Sons' and 'The Matchmaker.' His select television credits include "Hack," "Law & Order," and "Law & Order: Criminal Intent."

Andre Holland (Claudio/Bertram) previously appeared at The Public in 'The Brother/Sister Plays' and at Shakespeare in the Park in 'As You Like It' and 'Much Ado About Nothing.' His other New York credits include 'The Whipping Man,' 'Joe Turner's Come and Gone,' 'Wig Out' and 'Blue Door.' His select film and television credits include "Bride Wars," "Small Beautifully Moving Parts," "Miracle at St. Anna," "Friends with Benefits," "Damages" and "Law & Order."

Jordan Lund (Abhorson/Rinaldo) appeared at Shakespeare in the Park in 'King John,' 'Twelfth Night' and 'The Golem.' His Broadway credits include 'Romeo and Juliet,' 'Macbeth' and 'As You Like It.' Lund is a member of Estelle Parson's New York Shakespeare Festival Company. His film and television credits include "Rumor Has It," "The Bucket List," "Good Luck Charlie," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" and "Without a Trace."

David Manis (Elbow/Lavatch) previously appeared at The Public in 'Timon of Athens,' 'Henry IV Part I and II' and 'Pieces of Eight.' His Broadway credits include 'A Free Man of Color,' 'Exit the King,' 'The Coast of Utopia,' 'Arcadia,' 'The Rivals' and 'Morning's at Seven.' His select film and television credits include "Gacy," "Dream Date," "Monk," "Boston Public," "The King of Queens" and "Law & Order: Criminal Intent."

Dalin Matthee (Provost/Lafew). His Broadway credits include 'A Man for All Seasons,' 'Julius Caesar,' 'Henry IV' and 'QED.' He has appeared in over 20 feature films and guest-starred on countless television series. Matthews also served as Artistic Director of the Berkeley Shakespeare Festival and an Associate Artist of the Old Globe Theatre.

Caitlin O'Connell (Nun/Widow) previously appeared at The Public in 'Stuff Happens.' She has appeared on Broadway in '33 Variations' and Off-Broadway in 'Boy' and 'Give Me Your Answer, Do!.' O'Connell had a recurring role on television's "Another World." Her other film and television credits include "The Stepchild," "Homicide," "Whoopi" and "Law & Order."

Annie Parisse (Mariana/Helena) has appeared on Broadway in 'Prelude to a Kiss' and Off-Broadway in 'Clybourne Park,' 'Becky Shaw,' 'The Internationalist' and 'The Credeaux Canvas.' Her extensive television work includes supporting roles on "Rubicon," "Law & Order," and "As the World Turns." Her select film credits include "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," "National Treasure" and "Monster-in-Law."

Lorenzi Pisoni (Duke/First Brother Dumaine) previously appeared at The Public in 'As You Like It' and in 'Much Ado About Nothing' for Shakespeare in the Park. His Broadway credits include 'Equus' and 'Henry IV.' He has appeared Off-Broadway in 'Devil's Disciple,' 'Election Day,' 'Last Dance' and 'Troilus and Cressida.' His select film and television credits include 'The Adjustment Bureau,' "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" and a recurring role on "All My Children."

Reg Rogers (Lucio/Parolles). His Broadway credits include 'A Free Man of Color,' 'The Royal Family,' 'Proposals,' 'Holiday' and 'The Molière Comedies' and his Off-Broadway credits include 'The Pain and the Itch,' 'Bach at Leipzig,' 'Miss Julie' and 'The Dazzle.' His select television credits include "Friends," "Scoundrels," "Lipstick Jungle," and "Law & Order."

Lucas Caleb Rooney (Barnadine/Gentleman) previously appeared at The Public in 'Yellow Face.' His Broadway credits include 'Henry IV' and 'The Country Girl.' He appeared Off-Broadway in 'The Orphans Home Cycle' and 'She Stoops To Conquer.' His select film and television credits include "On Broadway," "One Last Thing," "Cold Case," "CSI: Miami" and "Law & Order."

Tonya Pinkins (Mistress Overdone/Countess) previously appeared at The Public in 'Caroline, or Change' and 'The Caucasian Chalk Circle,' and at The Delacorte in 'The Merry Wives of Windsor.' Broadway credits include 'Caroline, or Change,' 'The Wild Party,' 'Radio Golf,' 'Jelly's Last Jam,' 'Merrily We Roll Along' and 'Play On!.' She appeared as a series regular on "All My Children" and as recurring characters on television's "Army Wives," "As the World Turns," and "24."

David Esbjornson (Director - Measure for Measure) has been the Artistic Director at Seattle Repertory and Classic Stage Company in New York. Highlights include: 'In the Blood' by Suzan-Lori Parks (The Public), the world premiere of 'Purgatorio' by Ariel Dorfman (Seattle Rep), 'The Goat or Who is Sylvia?' (Broadway), 'The Play About the Baby' (The Century), 'The Ride Down Mt. Morgan' and 'Resurrection Blues' by Arthur Miller (Broadway, The Guthrie), the world premiere of 'Angels in America: Millennium Approaches' and the first public presentation of 'Perestroika,' 'Homebody/Kabul' (London), Neal Bell's 'Thérèse Raquin' (CSC; OBIE), 'Tuesdays With Morrie' (Minetta Lane) and Kevin Kling's 'How? How? Why? Why? Why?.'

Daniel Sullivan (Director - All's Well That Ends Well) For The Public Theater, Sullivan directed 'The Merchant of Venice' (Broadway/Shakespeare in the Park), 'Twelfth Night,' 'A Midsummer Night's Dream,' 'Stuff Happens' and 'The Merry Wives of Windsor.' Among his Broadway credits are 'Time Stands Still,' 'Accent on Youth,' 'The Homecoming,' 'Prelude to a Kiss,' 'Rabbit Hole,' 'After the Night and the Music,' 'Julius Caesar,' 'Brooklyn Boy,' 'Sight Unseen,' 'I'm Not Rappaport,' 'Morning's at Seven,' 'Proof,' the 2000 production of 'A Moon for the Misbegotten,' 'Ah, Wilderness!,' 'The Sisters Rosensweig,' 'Conversations With My Father' and' The Heidi Chronicles.'