Glover, Pennington, Shepherd, Sullivan & Taymor Set for Drama Desk Shakespeare Panel at Sardi's Today

Distinguished American actor John Glover (Witch/A Porter/Murderer 3 in Lincoln Center's Macbeth) will join Drama Desk's "Why Shakespeare? Why Now?" at Sardi's today, April 4 (11:45 AM-2:30 PM), it was announced by Isa Goldberg, president of Drama Desk. Glover will join panelists-actors Michael Pennington and Scott Shepherd and directors Daniel Sullivan and Julie Taymor-in the lively discussion exploring the reasons why New York's current theater season has such a distinctive Shakespearean flavor. Carol Rocamora, an educator, critic, playwright, translator, and Drama Desk member, will be the moderator.

With his multiple honors, from Tony, Drama Desk and Obie awards to several Emmy nods, John Glover stands out as one of our most distinctive actors. While best known for his long-running television series Smallville, Glover's appearances in a host of stage productions from Love! Valour! Compassion! to Waiting for Godot to this season's Macbeth at Lincoln Center Theater, remain among his most memorable.

New York's theater season has struck a welcome chord with both critics and audiences thanks to the critically acclaimed Shakespeare's Globe productions of Twelfth Night, or What You Will and Richard III (in repertory at the Belasco Theater), Lincoln Center Theater's Macbeth, the Bard's The Comedy of Errors (Shakespeare in the Park), King Lear and A Midsummer Night's Dream (both by Theatre for a New Audience in Brooklyn), and the Wooster Group's Cry, Trojans! (Troilus & Cressida).

The other members of the panel have all distinguished themselves this season in these new productions of Shakespeare's works: British actor/director Michael Pennington (King Lear) and Julie Taymor (A Midsummer Night's Dream) both for Theatre for a New Audience; Scott Shepherd (Cry, Trojans!, The Wooster Group's Troilus & Cressida); and director Daniel Sullivan (The Comedy of Errors, Shakespeare in the Park).

The Drama Desk's Spring Luncheon/Panel Discussion focusing on Shakespeare will take place at Sardi's Eugenia Room, 234 West 44th St., today, April 4. It will begin with the luncheon at 11:45 AM, followed by the panel discussion from 1:15-2:30 PM. Tickets-$50 for Drama Desk members and $60 for non-members-may be purchased in advance, online at DramaDesk.org, or directly at https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/932325. To order by phone, call 212-352-3101.

Drama Desk Awards, given annually in a number of categories, are the only major New York theater honors for which productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off-Broadway compete against one another in the same category. Barbara Siegel is chairperson of the Drama Desk nominating committee. Theatermania.com will present the 59th Annual Drama Desk Awards at The Town Hall on Sunday, June 1, 2014.

Photo Credit: Jennifer Broski