The Public Theater announces full cast of Illyria

The Public Theater has announced complete casting for the upcoming world premiere of Illyria, written and directed by Richard Nelson, which will play the Public's Anspacher Theater from October 22 to November 26, 2017, with an official opening set for October 30.

John Magaro will lead the cast as Joseph Papp, co-founder of The Public Theater, and will be joined on stage by Rosie Benton (as Colleen Dewhurst), Will Brill (as Bernie Gersten), Kristen Connolly (as Peggy Papp), Blake DeLong (as David Amram), Emma Duncan (as Gladys Vaughan), Naian González Norvind (as Mary Bennett), Fran Kranz (as Merle Debuskey), John Sanders (as Stuart Vaughan), and Max Woertendyke (as John Robertson).

Synopsis: "It is 1958, and New York City is in the midst of a major building boom; a four-lane highway is planned for the heart of Washington Square; Carnegie Hall is designated for demolition; entire neighborhoods on the West Side are leveled to make room for a new 'palace of art'. And a young Joe Papp and his colleagues face betrayals, self-inflicted wounds and anger from the city's powerful elite as they continue their free Shakespeare productions in Central Park. From the creator of the most celebrated family plays of the last decade, comes a drama about a different kind of family - one held together by the simple and incredibly complicated belief that the theater, and the city, belong to all of us."

The creative team behind Illyria has also been announced and features scenic design by Susan Hilferty and Jason Ardizzone-West, costume design by Susan Hilferty, lighting design by Jennifer Tipton and sound design by Scott Lehrer.

John Magaro is perhaps best known for his TV & Film roles, which include appearances in "Orange is the New Black," "The Big Short," "Carol," "Unbroken," and "War Machine." He previously appeared on Broadway as Earl Williams in the 2016 revival of 'The Front Page.'