Margaret Whitton News

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) will begin Shakespeare in the Park performances on Wednesday, June 9 with the first preview of THE WINTER'S TALE, directed by Michael Greif. THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, directed by Daniel Sullivan, will begin performances on Saturday, June 12. Both shows will play in repertory through Sunday, August 1 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park.

Public Theater Artistic Director Oskar Eustis, Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson and Board Chairman Warren Spector officially launched the GOING PUBLIC Capital Campaign on Tuesday, March 9 at a ceremonial groundbreaking event attended by more than 150 people including, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Cultural Affairs Commissioner Kate D. Levin, and Board Members Gail Papp, Liev Schreiber and Sam Waterston.

Public Theater Artistic Director Oskar Eustis, Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson and Board Chairman Warren Spector officially launched the GOING PUBLIC Capital Campaign on Tuesday, March 9 at a ceremonial groundbreaking event attended by more than 150 people including, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Cultural Affairs Commissioner Kate D. Levin, and Board Members Gail Papp, Liev Schreiber and Sam Waterston.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced that the 2010 Shakespeare in the Park summer season will present two Shakespeare plays in repertory giving audiences eight straight weeks of free Shakespeare. Under directors Daniel Sullivan and Michael Greif, the same company of actors will perform in both THE WINTER'S TALE and THE MERCHANT OF VENICE on rotating nights.

The Public Theater's Artistic Director Oskar Eustis and Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson announced today that the 2009-2010 Season will feature premieres by Peter Sellars, Richard Foreman, Tarell Alvin McCraney, Mike Daisey, and Suzan-Lori Parks and include performances by John Ortiz, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Willem Dafoe.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced additional casting today for the Shakespeare in the Park production of TWELFTH NIGHT, directed by Daniel Sullivan. Herb Foster will play Valentine; Kevin Kelly will play Sea Captain; Tony nominee Stark Sands will play Sebastian; Baylen Thomas will play Curio; Jon Patrick Walker will play Fabian; and Tony Award winner Julie White will play Maria. TWELFTH NIGHT will feature original music by symphonic folk-rock band Hem.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced that TAKING OVER, the first new solo play by OBIE Award winner Danny Hoch in 10 years, has been extended through Sunday, December 21 due to popular demand. Directed by Tony Taccone, TAKING OVER opened on Sunday, November 23 and was originally scheduled to close on Sunday, December 14.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) welcomes Tony Award-winning actor and singer Mandy Patinkin back to The Public for a two-week concert series in the Anspacher Theater in honor of the 20th Anniversary of his first concert at The Public. For the first time, Patinkin will present three of his most popular concerts, Mamaloshen, Celebrating Sondheim, and Dress Casual, in repertory with Paul Ford on piano, December 8 through December 21. All profits from Patinkin's concerts go to The Public Theater just as they did 20 years ago when he first performed here. Tickets for this limited engagement are available by calling (212) 967-7555 or visiting www.publictheater.org.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced today that TAKING OVER, the first new solo play by OBIE Award winner Danny Hoch in 10 years, has been extended through Sunday, December 21 due to popular demand. Directed by Tony Taccone, TAKING OVER opened on Sunday, November 23 and was originally scheduled to close on Sunday, December 14.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) welcomes Tony Award-winning actor and singer Mandy Patinkin back to The Public for a two-week concert series in the Anspacher Theater in honor of the 20th Anniversary of his first concert at The Public. For the first time, Patinkin will present three of his most popular concerts, Mamaloshen, Celebrating Sondheim, and Dress Casual, in repertory with Paul Ford on piano, December 8 through December 21. All profits from Patinkin's concerts go to The Public Theater just as they did 20 years ago when he first performed here. Tickets for this limited engagement are available by calling (212) 967-7555 or visiting www.publictheater.org.

The Public Theater's Artistic Director Oskar Eustis and Executive Director Mara Manus announce that the U.S. premiere of WRECKS, written and directed by Neil LaBute and featuring Ed Harris, has sold out for its run and will be extended for three additional weeks with performances running through November 19th. Previews began on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 in the Anspacher Theater. The press opening is Tuesday, October 10, 2006.

Byron Jennings has been cast as British Prime Minister Tony Blair in the Public Theater's upcoming production of David Hare's Stuff Happens, while Jay O. Sanders will be seen as George W. Bush

The Public Theater's Artistic Director Oskar Eustis and Executive Director Mara Manus announce that the World Premiere of MEASURE FOR PLEASURE, a play by David Grimm, will feature Suzanne Bertish, Wayne Knight ('Seinfeld'), Euan Morton (Tony Award-nominee, Taboo), Michael Stuhlbarg (Tony Award-nominee, The Pillowman) and Emily Swallow.

John Jeter's first play 'Dirty Tricks,' airing this week on BBC Radio, will become a movie starring Meryl Streep, Gwyneth Paltrow and Annette Bening.

The Public Theaters Artistic Director Oskar Eustis and Executive Director Mara Manus announce the New York premiere of SEE WHAT I WANNA SEE, a musical with words and music by Michael John LaChiusa.

The Public Theater will present two series of readings--New Work Now! and New Work Then!--in celebration of its history of producing new plays; the two series will be held from September 9th to September 18th and from September 2nd to October 3rd

The Public Theater announces that Brian Bedford, Lynn Collins, Jennifer Ikeda, Richard Thomas, and James Waterston have joined the cast of As You Like It for Shakespeare in the Park. As You Like It is the first production scheduled in The Public's year-long 50th Anniversary Celebration, with performances beginning Tuesday, June 25th and continuing through Sunday, July 17th.

The Public Theater announces that due to a recent cast change, This Is How It Goes, which was originally scheduled to begin previews Thursday, March 10th, will now begin previews Friday, March 11th.

Amanda Peet appears alongside Ben Stiller, and Jeffrey Wright, previews begin March 10.

LAByrinth Theater Company and The Public Theater announce that, due to audience demand, the world premiere of THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT, a new play by Stephen Adly Guirgis and directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman, will extend its run through Sunday, April 3rd. Previews began in The Public Theater's Martinson Hall on Tuesday, February 8th. The press opening is Wednesday, March 2nd. The production was originally scheduled to close Sunday, March 20th.