A large and eclectic cast will be featured in the Public Theater's Central Park presentation of Shakespeare's A Winter's Tale this summer. Brian Kulick will direct the drama, which plays June 21 through July 16 (July 6).
Among to better known names in the cast are Jonathan Hadary (Gypsy, The Destiny of Me); Randy Danson (The Treatment), who will play Paulina; Keith David (Seven Guitars), who will be Leontes; Bronson Pinchot (Putting It Together), who will essay Autolycus; and Henry Stram (Titanic), who will play Camillo.
Also in the cast are Aunjanue Ellis, Bill Buell, Michael Stuhlbarg, Graham Winston, Emma Bowers, Lucia Brawley, Kena Tangi Dorsey, Phyllis A. Johnson, Francis Jue, Wayne Kasserman, Jesse Pennington, Daniel G. Pino, Jenny Sandler, Gareth Saxe, Erica M. Tazel, Paul W. Tiesler and Michael Traynor.
The late-career romance, Winter's Tale, is the Bard's story of jealously, punishment, exile, loss and, ultimately, forgiveness, set in Sicilia and Bohemia. Designers will be Riccardo Hernàndez (scenic), Anita Yavich (costume), Ken Posner (lighting). Original music is by Mark Bennett.
Kulick, a Public regular, staged A Dybbuk and Timon of Athens, among other works, for the nonprofit. His most recent credit was Adam Baum and the Jew Movie, which plays the Blue Light Theatre Company Off-Broadway last fall. *
The Public Theater's free outdoor summer presentations at Central Park's Delacorte Theatre will continue with Julius Caesar, directed by Barry Edelstein, Aug. 8-Sept. 7.
The historic tragedy, Julius Caesar, tells of the rise and murder of the Roman leader at the hands of his compatriots. Designers will be Narelle Sissons (scenic) and Don Holder (lighting). Edelstein is artistic director of Classic Stage Company in New York City.
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Tickets for both plays are free (only two tickets per person), and can be picked up on performance days for that evening at The Delacorte Theater in Central Park starting at 1 PM. The closest entrances to The Delacorte are at 81st Street and Central Park West or 79th Street and Fifth Avenue. Tickets are also distributed from 1-3 PM at The Joseph Papp Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street (near Astor Place).
For additional information about Shakespeare in Central Park, call (212) 539-8750 or visit The Public Theater website, www.publictheater.org.
--By Robert Simonson
and Kenneth Jones
