The Public Theater's anticipated outdoor staging of Into the Woods, which will incorporate elements from the 2010 Regent's Park Open Air Theatre London production, will be staged by original director Timothy Sheader July 23-Aug. 25 at the Delacorte Theater. The musical has a Tony-winning score by Stephen Sondheim and a Tony-winning book by James Lapine.
Initial casting includes Mueller (On a Clear Day You Can See Forever) as Cinderella, with young actor Jack Broderick (Billy Elliot) taking on the role of the Narrator. Also featured will be Gideon Glick (Jack), Cooper Grodin (Rapunzel's Prince), Ivan Hernandez (Cinderella's Prince/Wolf), Tina Johnson (Granny), Josh Lamon (Steward), Laura Shoop (Cinderella's Mother) and Tess Soltau (Rapunzel).
Casting for the roles of The Witch, The Baker and The Baker's Wife, Little Red and the Mysterious Man have not been announced.
Frequent Sondheim collaborator Paul Gemignani will musical direct and conduct the production.
Into the Woods will have set design by John Lee Beatty and Soutra Gilmour, costume design by Emily Rebholz, movement direction by Liam Steel and sound design by Acme Sound Partners. Into the Woods has orchestrations by Tony winner Jonathan Tunick. Additional casting has also been announced for As You Like It, which will open the season June 5-30 under the direction of Daniel Sullivan.
Newly added to the cast are Tony winner Spinella (Angels in America) as Jaques and David Furr (The Importance of Being Earnest) as Orlando. They join the previously announced Tony nominee Lily Rabe (The Merchant of Venice, Seminar) as Rosalind, MacIntyre Dixon (Adam), Renee Elise Goldsberry (Celia) and Omar Metwally (Oliver).
As You Like It features scenic design by John Lee Beatty, costume design by Jane Greenwood, lighting design by Natasha Katz and sound design by Acme Sound Partners. Grammy and Emmy Award-winning actor-comedian-musician Steve Martin will provide the musical score.
Tickets to Shakespeare in the Park are free. They are distributed, two per person, at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park the day of the show. The Public Theater will again offer free tickets through its Virtual Ticketing lottery at www.shakespeareinthepark.org on the day of the show.
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In honor of five decades at the Delacorte, The Public Theater launched the 50th Anniversary Fellows Program this year to help support free Shakespeare in the Park for years to come. For more information on the Fellows Program, call (212) 967-7555 or visit www.shakespeareinthepark.org.
Summer Supporter Tickets, first conceived by Joe Papp, will be available for As You Like It and Into the Woods beginning March 8. A fully tax-deductible contribution of $175 entitles each Supporter to one reserved seat for either production. A limited number of Summer Supporter seats are available to ensure that as many free seats as possible will be available to distribute to the general public on the day of the show.
Supporter contributions help to underwrite free Shakespeare in the Park.
Summer Supporter donations can be made at The Public Theater Box Office at 425 Lafayette Street, by phone at (212) 967-7555, or online at www.publictheater.org.
