As previously reported, the 53rd season of Shakespeare in the Park will kick off with The Tempest, starring Academy Award nominee Sam Waterston ("The Newsroom," King Lear, Hamlet). The production, which marks Waterston's 13th Shakespearean role at the Public, will be followed by Cymbeline.

The Tempest will be directed by Tony nominee Michael Greif (If/Then, Next to Normal, Rent) and will play May 27-July 5 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. An official opening night is slated for June 16. Waterston, who will star as Prospero, made his Delacorte debut in the 1963 production of As You Like It.

The Tempest cast will also include Whitney Bashor, Louis Cancelmi, Francesca Carpanini, Nicholas Christopher, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Olga Karmansky, Tamika Lawrence, Danny Mastrogiorgio, Charles Parnell, Chris Perfetti, Rodney Richardson, Cotter Smith and Bernard White. The ensemble includes Jordan Barrow, Chloe Fox, Thomas Gibbons, Sunny Hitt, Brandon Kalm, Rico Lebron, Suki Lopez, and Matthew Oaks.

First staged at the Delacorte in its inaugural year 1962, The Tempest is Shakespeare’s classic tale of young love and old enemies. Prospero is exiled to a fantastical island where he unleashes a churning storm to shipwreck the traitor brother who stole his throne and settle the score once and for all. His quest for revenge is upended however, by newfound love.

The season will continue with Cymbeline, helmed by Tony-winner Daniel Sullivan (Merchant of Venice, Proof, Rabbit Hole), who returns to the Delacorte following last summer's production of King Lear. Cymbeline is set to play July 23-August 23, with an official opening night August 10. Cymbeline is a Shakespearean fairy tale featuring cross-dressing girls and cross-dressing boys, poisons and swordfights. Princess Imogen's fidelity is put to the test when her disapproving father banishes her soul mate.

The Public continues its 53-year tradition of offering free theatre in Central Park. Tickets are distributed, two per person, at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park on the day of the show. The Public Theater will again offer free tickets through our Virtual Ticketing lottery on the day of the show at shakespeareinthepark.org.

The Delacorte Theater in Central Park is accessible by entering at 81st St. and Central Park West or at 79th St. and Fifth Ave.