Rains Delay Shakespeare in the Park's Macbeth by One Day 2006/06/10

Rains Delay Shakespeare in the Park's Macbeth by One Day

Saturday, June 10, 2006; Posted: 08:06 PM - by BWW News Desk

The Public Theater's Artistic Director Oskar Eustis and Executive Director Mara Manus announce that the first preview of Shakespeare in the Park's Macbeth will be delayed by one day. The rains of the last few weeks have slowed down the preparation of scenery and production elements and in the past week have kept the cast from necessary rehearsals. The first preview, originally set for Tuesday, June 13th has been moved to Wednesday, June 14th. The run of Macbeth will continue as scheduled.

The cast includes Liev Schreiber (Macbeth); Jennifer Ehle (Lady Macbeth); Tolan Aman (Boy); Teagle F. Bougere (Banquo); Sterling K. Brown (Macduff); Lynn Cohen (Weird Sister 3/Porter); Sanjit De Silva (Donalbain); Seth Duerr (Ensemble); Amefika El-Amin (Ensemble); Stephanie Fieger (Ensemble); Jacob Fishel (Malcolm); Herb Foster (Duncan/Doctor); Philip Goodwin (Ross); Hollie Hunt (Ensemble); Florencia Lozano (Lady Macduff); Joan MacIntosh (Weird Sister 1/Gentlewoman); Graeme Malcolm (Seyton); Michael Markham (Ensemble); Mark L. Montgomery (Lennox); Andrew McGinn (Angus/Murderer 1); Lucas Near-Verbrugghe (Ensemble); Clancy O'Connor (Ensemble); Pedro Pascal (Bloody Sergeant/Murderer 2); and Ching Valdes-Aran (Weird Sister 2). Full bios of all cast members are available from The Public's press office.

Directed by Mois�s Kaufman, Macbeth will begin previews at the Delacorte Theater on Wednesday, June 14th. Performances will continue through Sunday, July 9th. The press opening will be Wednesday, June 28th. Shakespeare in the Park will mark the culmination of The Public's year-long 50th Anniversary Celebration. Please note that all performances of Macbeth will begin at 8:30 p.m.

Macbeth takes place in a world torn by war, in which treachery, ambition and superstition rule. Macbeth is a victorious war general who applies the rules of war to domestic politics and in the process turns his country upside down. This savage political thriller has never been more timely.

As previously announced, this summer's second offering of Shakespeare in the Park will be Mother Courage and Her Children by Bertolt Brecht, featuring Meryl Streep. Translated by Tony Kushner, with original music by Jeanine Tesori, and directed by George C. Wolfe, Mother Courage and Her Children is scheduled to begin previews on Tuesday, August 8th. Performances will continue through Sunday, September 3rd.

Oskar Eustis stated "This summer's shows in the park will be a perfect manifestation of what The Public Theater stands for: our nation's greatest actors, performing the world's greatest plays, under the direction of thrilling and boundary-breaking directors, free for the people. The fact that both of these magnificent classics speak to a world at war is a powerful reminder of how, in the hands of remarkable artists, great plays of the past can speak to the state of the nation better than any politician."

Tickets are FREE and will be available on the day of the performance (two per person) at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park beginning at 1:00 p.m. and at The Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street (near Astor Place), from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The closest entrances to the Delacorte are at 81st Street and Central Park West or 70th Street and Fifth Avenue.

For additional information about Shakespeare in the Park, call (212) 539-8750 or visit The Public Theater website at www.publictheater.org.

Founded by Joseph Papp in 1954 as the Shakespeare Workshop and now one of the nation's preeminent cultural institutions, The Public remains dedicated to producing new plays, musicals and productions of Shakespeare and other classics on all its stages - 425 Lafayette Street, Joe's Pub, and Shakespeare in the Park. The Public has won 40 Tony Awards, 138 Obies, 39 Drama Desk Awards, 19 Lucille Lortel Awards and four Pulitzer Prizes.