LaChanze, Francis Jue, Deirdre O’Connell, More to Star in Free Shakespeare in the Park Romeo and Juliet

LaChanze, Francis Jue, Deirdre O’Connell, More to Star in Free Shakespeare in the Park Romeo and Juliet

The classic Shakespearean tragedy will play the newly renovated Delacorte Theater in Central Park this summer.

March 19, 2026 By Logan Culwell-Block

The first casting for The Public Theater's upcoming Free Shakespeare in the Park production of Romeo and Juliet is out! The production, which will play the newly renovated Delacorte Theater in Central Park, begins May 22 and will officially open June 11. The production will continue through June 28.

Starring in the title roles will be Daniel Bravo Hernández as Romeo and Ra'Mya Latiah Aikens as Juliet, with Tony winner Francis Jue as Friar Laurence, Tony winner LaChanze as Lady Capulet, Tony winner Deirdre O'Connell as Nurse, Ariyan Kassam as Tybalt, Sergio Mauritz Ang as Friar John, Rachel Crowl as Apothecary, Caleb Joshua Eberhardt as Mercutio, Jason Manuel Olazábal as Lord Montague, Okieriete Onaodowan as Benvolio, Jessica Pimentel as Escalus, and Mariand Torres as Lady Montague, alongside ensemble members Marlon Xavier and Andrés Nicolás Chaves. Further casting is to be announced.

Public Associate Artistic Director Saheem Ali (Fat Ham, Buena Vista Social Club) will be at the helm for, returning to the summer series after leading this past summer's staging of Twelfth Night (streaming now on PBS). Ali has assembled a creative team that includes scenic designer Maruti Evans, costume designer Oana Botez, lighting designer Christopher Akerlind, sound designer Mike Tracey, prop manager Jessica Zivny, composer Michael Thurber, hair and wig designer Krystal Balleza, fight designer Thomas Schall, and intimacy director Kelsey Rainwater. Kamra Jacobs will serve as production stage manager with Benjamin E.C. Pfister and Giselle Andrea Raphaela as stage managers.

Romeo and Juliet is just one of three productions the Public will stage at the Delacorte this summer, along with a Daniel Sullivan-directed Winter's Tale and a Public Works offering (which pairs professional principal players with ensembles of community groups from across all five boroughs of NYC) that is still to be announced.

As always, tickets to Romeo and Juliet and the entirety of the Free Shakespeare in the Park season will be available for free. Tickets will be distributed on the day of each performances in-person at the Delacorte, and at borough distribution sites including 14 dates at branches of Citizens Bank. The company also offers an in-person lottery at the theatre's East Village venue, and a digital lottery via the TodayTix smartphone app. A limited number of advance tickets are available by making a donation to the company's Free Shakespeare in the Park series.

Visit PublicTheater.org.