Shakespeare in the Park, further cast announced for both Hamlet and the musical Hair

The Public Theater has announced additional casting today for the 2008 Shakespeare in the Park summer season. Andre Braugher and Lily Rabe will join the company as 'Claudius' and 'Ophelia', respectively, in Oskar Eustis' production of Hamlet.

They join the previously announced Michael Stuhlbarg as Hamlet and Richard Easton as Polonius. Hamlet will begin previews on 27 May 2008 and run through to 29 Jun 2008.

Hamlet: A young man haunted by his father's ghost and driven to the edge of madness in his obsession to avenge his death.

Andre Braugher (Claudius). His previous Shakespeare credits at The Public include playing the leading role in 'Henry V' for which he won an OBIE Award, Richard II, Measure for Measure, Twelfth Night, Coriolanus, King John, and Much Ado About Nothing. He is known to TV audiances for his role as Detective Frank Pembleton on the TV series 'Homicide,"for he was awarded his first Emmy in 1998, he won a second Emmy in 2006 for his role as Nick Atwater in tne TV mini-series 'Theif'.

Lily Rabe (Ophelia) is currently appearing off-Broadway in Crimes of the Heart at the Roundabout Theater Company. She appeared on Broadway in 'Heartbreak House' (2006 revival) and 'Steel Magnolias' (2005). Her film credits include Mona Lisa Smile, Never Again, Aftermath, A Crime, and No Reservations.

Hamlet has not been staged at The Delacorte Theater since 1975 when Sam Waterston played the title role.

Following the success of the 40th Anniversary concert celebration of Hair last September in the Park, The Public Theater will stage a full production this July as the second offering of the Shakespeare in the Park season. Directed by Diane Paulus, Hair will begin previews on 22 Jul 2008 and run through 17 Aug 2008.

Joining the previously announced returning cast members Jonathan Groff (Claude) and Will Swenson (Berger), are Ato Blankson-Wood (Tribe), Steel Burkhardt (Tribe), Allison Case (Crissy), Lauren Elder (Tribe), Allison Guinn (Tribe), Anthony Hollock (Tribe), Kaitlin Kiyan (Tribe), Andrew Kober (Father/Margaret Mead), Megan Lawrence (Mother), Nicole Lewis (White Boys Trio / Tribe), Patina Renea Miller (Dionne), John M. Moauro (Tribe), Darius Nichols (Hud), Brandon Pearson (Tribe), Megan Reinking (Black Boys Trio / Tribe), Paris Remillard (Tribe), Bryce Ryness (Woof), Saycon Sengbloh (White Boys Trio / Tribe), Maya Sharpe (Tribe), Kacie Sheik (Jeanie), Theo Stockman (Tribe) and Tommar Wilson (Tribe), who are all returning cast member.

Hair: The year is 1967, and the Vietnam War is at its height. In New York City, a tribe of hippies rails against the establishment, protesting intolerance, brutality, and the dehumanization of society. When Claude, one of their own, gets drafted, he must make a decision about what values are worth fighting for.

Hamlet and Hair were also the first two shows presented at The Public when it opened on Lafayette Street in 1967.

Andre BraugherLily RabeJonathan Groff as Claude in 'Hair'