Olivier Award winner Chukwudi Iwuji, who starred as Hamlet in the Public Theater's mobile unit staging in 2016, is set to star in the company's upcoming outdoor Shakespeare in the Park staging of Othello in the title role. Iwuji was also recently seen on The Public Theater stage in Bruce Norris' The Low Road; he will be joined in Othello by Heather Lind (Incognito, TURN: Washington's Spies) as Desdemona, and Corey Stoll (the upcoming film adaptation of The Seagull and last summer's Julius Caesar) as the infamous Iago.
Following Othello will be the previously announced re-imagined staging of the acclaimed 2016 Public Works musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Ato Blankson-Wood, currently seen Off-Broadway in Lucy Thurber's Transfers, has joined the cast in the role of Orsino.
Othello will be directed by Tony winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson, and will kick off the summer Shakespeare in the Park season May 29. The tragedy follows the downfall of a powerful man who is plagued by jealousy and deceit. Performances are scheduled through June 25 in the Delacorte Theater in Central Park.
Completing the cast of Othello will be Peter Jay Fernandez as Duke of Venice; Motell Foster as Roderigo; Andrew Hovelson as Lodovico; David Kenner as Ensemble member; Tim Nicolai as Ensemble member; Flor De Liz Perez as Bianca; Miguel Perez as Brabantio; Thomas Schall as Montano; Caroline Siewert Ensemble member; Babak Tafti as Cassio; Peter Van Wagner as Gratiano; and Alison Wright as Emilia. The non-equity ensemble will feature Kevin Rico Angulo, Christopher Cassarino, Lily Santiago, and Allen Tedder.
Othello will feature scenic design by Rachel Hauck, costume design by Toni-Leslie James, lighting design by Jane Cox, sound design by Jessica Paz, and music composition by Derek Wieland.
Twelfth Night, conceived by Kwame Kwei-Armah and Shaina Taub, will begin performances after Othello, July 17. The adaptation features music and lyrics by Taub, and direction by artistic director Oskar Eustis and Kwei-Armah.
The previously announced Twelfth Night cast members include Nikki M. James as Viola, Andrew Kober as Malvolio, Jacob Ming-Trent as Sir Toby Belch, and co-creator Taub as Feste. Equity actors and two rotating ensembles of community members will also be part of the ensemble, with complete casting to be announced at a later date.
Twelfth Night will feature scenic design by Hauck, costume design by Andrea Hood, lighting design by John Torres, and sound design by Paz.
Tickets to Shakespeare in the Park are distributed, two per person, at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park beginning at noon on the day of each performance. Tickets will also be distributed by random mobile lottery on the TodayTix app or can be purchased via a tax-deductible donation. For information and to donate, call (212) 967-7555.