Joseph Marcell to Lead Shakespeare's Globe's KING LEAR at NYU Skirball Center, 9/30-10/12

NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts will present the world renowned Shakespeare's Globe production of KING LEAR from Tuesday September 30 through Sunday October 12 with Joseph Marcell in the title role.

Mr. Marcell is best known for his role as Geoffrey in "The Fresh Prince of Bel- Air" and has previously performed at the Globe in Much Ado about Nothing and Coriolanus. King Lear is directed by Bill Buckhurst and designed by Jonathan Fensom, with music composed by Alex Silverman. The production comes to New York following performances in the UK, Europe and Asia.

Old King Lear proposes to give up his crown and divide his kingdom between his three daughters but his rash generosity is cruelly repaid. Lear discovers too late the falsity of the values by which he has lived, and is ultimately plunged into despair and madness. Its tempestuous poetry shot through with moments of humor and heart-rending simplicity, King Lear is a profound exploration of the human condition in all its extremes and complexity.

Director Bill Buckhurst is well known at Shakespeare's Globe, where he has previously directed Hamlet with Dominic Dromgoole and played Antipholus in The Comedy of Errors. In Globe Education's annual Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank series, he has played Benedick in Much Ado about Nothing and has directed Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth and A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Using an Elizabethan style booth stage inspired by paintings and etchings from Shakespeare's time, eight actors will double up for this production with the delivery of the verse and the interaction with the audience will derive from a traditional Globe approach.

"While Shakespeare's Globe has about 400 years on NYU Skirball Center, we are thrilled to present one of the UK's most historical and prestigious theatre companies, and look forward to future collaborations. We are also excited about being part of this 'Year of Lear' and to joining our colleagues at BAM, Theatre for a New Audience, and The Public in exploring the diversity of perspectives for one of Shakespeare's most complex characters," said Michael Harrington, the center's Executive Director.

Tom Bird, The Globe's Executive Producer said "We are delighted to return to New York City in autumn 2014 with KING LEAR. The production, which features an unforgettable performance from Joseph Marcell in the lead role, played in the UK and Europe with huge success in 2013. It is with great pleasure that we are visiting the Skirball Center for this project, and we hope that is the beginning of a long and successful partnership between the Globe and the Skirball."

Tickets for the 2014-15 season will go on sale this summer. Visit www.NYUSkirball.org to get ticket alerts. The NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts is located at 566 LaGuardia Place at Washington Square. For more information, please visit www.nyuskirball.org.

Photo by Monica Simoes