Shakespeare in the Park: early casting announced

The Public Theater has announced more casting for the 2010 Shakespeare in the Park summer season. Daniel Sullivan will direct The Merchant of Venice in rotating rep with The Winter's Tale, directed by Michael Greif.

The repertory company will feature Gerry Bamman (Antigonus/Duke of Venice), Francois Battiste (Florizel/Lord/Salerio), Linda Emond (Hermione - The Winter's Tale), Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Young Shepherd/Lord/Launcelot Gobbo), Bill Heck (Lord/Lorenzo), Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Paulina/Nerissa), Ruben Santiago-Hudson (Leontes - The Winter's Tale), Byron Jennings (Camillo/Antonio), Heather Lind (Perdita/Jessica), Hamish Linklater (Autolycus/Lord/Bassanio), Jesse L. Martin (Polixenes/Gratiano), Nyambi Nyambi (Lord/Prince of Morocco), Al Pacino (Shylock - The Merchant of Venice), Lily Rabe (Portia - The Merchant of Venice), Matthew Rauch (Dion/Jailer/Solanio), Richard Topol (Lord/Tubal) and Max Wright (Old Shepherd/Prince of Arragon).

Due to a scheduling conflict with rehearsals, Pacino will only appear in The Merchant of Venice.

Shakespeare in the Park 2010 is not The Public Theater's first foray into rotating repertory. 'Henry IV,' Parts One and Two were performed in rep in the Newman Theater in 1991, and 20 years earlier, the 'Henry VI' plays and 'Richard III 'were condensed into 'The War of the Roses' which was presented in rep and then performed in one all-night marathon in Central Park.

Shakespeare in the Park 2010 will begin on 9 Jun 2009 and run through to 1 Aug 2010.

Gerry Bamman (Antigonus/Duke of Venice) returns to The Public, where his past appearances have included 'The Controversy of Valladolid,' 'Richard III,' 'The Master' and 'Margarita,' 'Museum,' 'Henry V,' 'Alice in Wonderland,' 'Our Late Night,' and 'The Seagull.' His most recent New York theater credits include 'The Glass Cage' at The Mint Theater Company and 'Nixon's Nixon' at Manhattan Class Company.

Francois Battiste (Florizel/Lord/Salerio) won an OBIE Award for his performance in The Public's 2009 production of 'The Good Negro.' He recently appeared in Lincoln Center Theater's 'Broke-ology' and on Broadway in the revival of 'Prelude to a Kiss' (Roundabout). His additional theater credits include 'Quiver and Twitch' (NYS&F), 'Broke-ology' (Williamstown), and productions at Dallas Theatre Center; Chicago Shakespeare, The Goodman, Victory Gardens, Famous Door, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, and Lookingglass Theatre.

Linda Emond (Hermione) is making her Public Theater debut. Her many stage credits include Yasmina Reza's 'Life (x) 3' (Tony nomination) and 'A Spanish Play,' Tony Kushner's 'Homebody/Kabul' (OBIE and Lortel Awards), 'The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui' (with Al Pacin/o), the Broadway revival of '1776,' Craig Lucas's 'The Dying Gaul,' and 'Nine Armenians' at MTC. Her recent film credits include 'Julie & Julia,' 'Stop-Loss,' 'Across the Universe' and 'North Country.'

Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Solanio/Young Shepherd) returns to the Delacorte, where he appeared in Daniel Sullivan's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' (2007) and George C. Wolfe's 'On the Town' (1997). He is a series regular on ABC's 'Modern Family' and has also appeared on television in 'Do Not Disturb,' 'The Class' and 'Ugly Betty.' His Broadway credits include 'On the Town' and 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.'

Michael Greif (Director, The Winter's Tale) directed the 2007 Shakespeare in the Park revival of 'Romeo and Juliet' at The Public, as well as Diana Son's 'Satellites,' the launch performance of Suzan-Lori Parks's 365 Days / 365 Plays, 'Fucking A,' 'Dogeaters '(Obie), 'Marisol,' 'Pericles,' 'Casanova,' 'A Bright Room Called Day,' and 'Machinal' (Obie). He is currently represented on Broadway with the musical 'Next To Normal,' for which he was nominated for a Tony Award. Other Tony nomination productions include 'Grey Gardens' and 'Rent.' Greif is an Artistic Associate at New York Theatre Workshop, where his credits include 'Cavedweller,' 'Bright Lights, Big City,' and 'Rent.'

Bill Heck (Lord/Lorenzo) made his Public Theater debut in the Shakespeare in the Park production of 'Much Ado About Nothing' (2004). He was recently seen in all three parts of Horton Foote's critically acclaimed 'Orphans Home Cycle' at the Signature Theater Company.

Marianne Jean-baptiste (Paulina/Nerissa) is making her New York stage debut. She received Academy Award, Golden Globe, and BAFTA nominations for her performance in Mike Leigh's 'Secrets & Lies' and a SAG Award nomination as part of the ensemble of the CBS drama "Without A Trace." She has numerous European stage credits, including a critically acclaimed simultaneous performance as both 'Mariana' and 'Mistress Overdone' in Cheek By Jowl's 'Measure for Measure,' 'Running Dream' at the Theatre Royal Stratford, 'Ave Africa' (writer and performer), Mike Leigh's 'It's A Great Big Shame' (West End), and a French-language production of Maria DiCenza's 'The Suit in Paris.'

Byron Jennings (Camillo/Antonio) played 'Antonio' in The Public's 1995 production of 'The Merchant of Venice,' directed by Barry Edelstein. His other Public Theater credits include 'Stuff Happens,' 'On the Open Road,' and 'Pericles.' His numerous Broadway credits include 'Accent on Youth,' 'Macbeth,' 'Is He Dead?,' 'Inherit the Wind,' 'Heartbreak House,' 'A Touch of the Poet,' 'Twelve Angry Men,' 'Sight Unseen,' 'Henry IV,' 'Dinner at Eight,' 'Noises Off,' 'The Invention of Love,' 'The Man Who Came To Dinner' and 'A Month in the Country.'

Heather Lind (Perdita/Jessica) is making her Public Theater debut. Her New York credits include 'The Desert' at HERE Arts Center, 'Shangri La' at Queens Theatre in the Park, and 'River Deep: A Tribute To Tina Turner' at Playwrights Horizons. She has appeared in numerous readings and projects at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, including 'Schmoozy Togetherness,' 'The Lover,' 'Big Money,' and 'Cold Hard Cash.' Her TV credits include "Gamekillers" on MTV, "Guiding Light," and "Law & Order: Criminal Intent."

Hamish Linklater (Autolycus/Lord/Bassanio) returns to The Delacorte, where he played 'Sir Andrew Aguecheek' in Daniel Sullivan's production of 'Twelfth Night 'last summer. His additional Public Theater appearances include 'Hamlet' (1999), 'The Square,' and 'Love's Fire,' off-Broadway, he has appeared in 'The Busy World Is Hushed,' 'Recent Tragic Events,' 'Good Thing,' 'Cyclone,' 'Chemistry of Change' and 'Romeo and Juliet.' He is a series regular on "The New Adventures of Old Christine" and also appeared on "Gideon's Crossing" and "Pushing Daisies."

Jesse L. Martin (Gratiano/Polixenes) is making his Public Theater debut. He is best-known for playing 'Tom Collins' in the original company of Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer Prize-winning 'Rent.' His other theater credits include 'The Arabian Nights' at Manhattan Theater Club and 'The Government Inspector' and 'Timon of Athens' on Broadway. He played 'Detective Ed Green' for nine seasons on 'Law & Order,' and he currently appears as a series regular on NBC's 'The Philanthropist.' Martin recently starred in the films 'Peter and Vandy,' 'The Cake Eaters' and 'Rent.'

Nyambi Nyambi (Lord/Prince of Morocco) appeared on Broadway in the Tony-winning revival of 'Joe Turner's Come and Gone.' His other New York City theater credits include 'The Tempest' at Classic Stage, 'Sliding Into the Beast' at New York Theatre Workshop, and 'Ain't Supposed to Die A Natural Death' and 'The Blacks: A Clown Show' at Classical Theatre of Harlem. His film credits include Day Night Day Night and Letters From Damascus. Al Pacino (Shylock) returns to The Public, where he played 'Marcus Antonius' in Stuart Vaughan's production of 'Julius Caesar' (1988). On Broadway, he won Tony Awards for his performances in 'Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie?' and 'The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel' and appeared in 'Camino Real,' 'Richard III,' 'American Buffalo,' 'Chinese Coffee,' 'Hughie' (which he also directed), and two productions of 'Salome' (1992 and 2003). His additional New York stage appearances include 'The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ui,' 'The Local Stigmatic' and 'The Indian Wants The Bronx.' He has appeared in more than 35 films, receiving Academy Award nominations for his performances in 'The Godfather,' 'Serpico,' 'The Godfather: Part II,' 'Dog Day Afternoon,' '...And Justice For All,' 'Dick Tracy' and 'Glengarry Glen Ross'; he won an Oscar for 'Scent of a Woman' and an Emmy for Mike Nichols' miniseries 'Angels in America.'

Lily Rabe (Portia/First Gentlewoman) is making her Public Theater debut. She has appeared on Broadway in Richard Greenberg's 'The American Plan,' George Bernard Shaw's 'Heartbreak House,' and Robert Harling's Steel 'Magnolias.' Off-Broadway credits include 'Crimes of the Heart' at Roundabout and 'Colder Than Here' at MCC. Her film credits include 'Mona Lisa Smile,' 'No Reservations,' 'What Just Happened,' 'A Crime' and 'The Toe Tactic.' Rabe's television credits include David Milch's 'Last of the Ninth' and guest appearances on 'Medium,' 'Nip/Tuck,' 'Law & Order: SVU,' and 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent' and 'Saving Grace.' Upcoming film roles include Andrew Jarecki's 'All Good Things'; Christopher Munch's 'Letters From A Big Man'; and the indie features 'Weakness' and 'Aftermath.'

Daniel Sullivan (Director, The Merchant of Venice) directed the 2009 Shakespeare in the Park production of 'Twelfth Night.' Also at The Public, he has directed 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' (2007), 'Stuff Happens' (2006) and 'The Merry Wives of Windsor' (1994). Sullivan is a seasoned Broadway producer who has helmed more than 20 Broadway productions. He won a Tony for his production of 'Proof' and received nominations for 'The Heidi Chronicles,' 'Conversations With My Father,' 'The Sisters Rosensweig,' 'Morning's at Seven' and 'Rabbit Hole.' Sullivan served as Artistic Director of Seattle Repertory Theatre, where he directed more than 60 productions. His film and television credits include 'The Substance of Fire' and 'Far East.'

Matthew Rauch (Dion/Jailer/Solanio) was last seen on Broadway in the revival of 'Prelude to a Kiss.' His other New York credits include 'The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie' (New Group), 'In the Matter of J. Robert Oppenheimer' (Keen Company), 'Revenger's Tragedy' (Red Bull), 'Hurlyburly' (New Group), and 'Book of Days' (Signature).

Ruben Santiago-hudson (Prince of Morocco/Leontes) played the title role in Mary Zimmerman's 1997 revival of 'Henry VIII' at Shakespeare in the Park. He made his Public Theater debut in Eugene Lee's 'East Texas Hot Links' and wrote and starred in 2001's 'Lackawanna Blues,' for which he won an Obie Award. On Broadway, he received a Tony Award for his performance in August Wilson's 'Seven Guitars' and appeared in Wilson's 'Gem of the Ocean' and the musical 'Jelly's Last Jam.' He directed 'Seven Guitars' and 'The First Breeze of Summer' at Signature and 'Things of Dry Hours' at New York Theatre Workshop. His numerous film credits include 'Coming to America,' 'The Devil's Advocate,' 'Shaft,' 'Domestic Disturbance,' 'Mr. Brooks,' 'American Gangster,' 'The Invention of Lying,' and George C. Wolfe's made-for-television adaptation of 'Lackawanna Blues.'

Richard Topol (Lord/Tubal) has appeared at The Public in 'The African Company Presents Richard III,' on Broadway in 'Awake and Sing!' (Drama Desk award, Best Ensemble), 'Julius Caesar,' and 'School For Scandal.' His numerous off-Broadway credits include 'Opus,' 'Omnium Gatherum,' 'Twelfth Night,' 'Hyde in Hollywood,' 'Birdseed Bundles,' and 'Diphthong.' His film and TV credits include "Mickey Blue Eyes," "Party Girls," "Path To Paradise," all three "Law & Orders," "The Practice," and "Strong Medicine."

Max Wright (Old Gobbo/Old Shepherd). His long history with The Public Theater includes appearances in the Shakespeare in the Park productions of 'Taming of the Shrew' (1999) and 'Henry IV, Part 1' (1981), and The Public's productions of 'The Cherry Orchard' (1977), 'The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel' and 'That Championship Season.' His numerous Broadway credits include 'Richard III' opposite Al Pacino, 'The Great White Hope,' and Lincoln Center Theater's productions of 'Twelfth Night' and 'Ivanov' (Tony nomination). He is best-known to television audiences for his starring roles on 'Alf' and 'The Norm Show.'