Ekulona, Chastain and Colon-Zayas Complete Cast of Othello for the Public Theater

By Adam Hetrick
July 30, 2009

Additional casting has been announced for the Public Theater production of Othello, starring Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman and John Ortiz, which will begin performances Sept. 12.

Peter Sellars directs his contemporary take on Shakespeare's dark work that will officially open Sept. 27 and run through Oct. 4 at the NYU Skirball Center. The production is a special presentation between the Public Theater and LAByrinth Theater Company in association with Wiener Festwochen, Vienna and Schauspielhaus Bochum.

In addition to Hoffman (Long Day's Journey, Jack Goes Boating, The Seagull) as Iago and Ortiz (Jesus Hopped the A Train, Jack Goes Boating) as Othello, the cast will also feature Julian Acosta (Anna in the Tropics) as Roderigo, Gaius Charles (Broke-Ology) as Duke/Lodovico, Jessica Chastain ("Salomaybe?") as Desdemona, Liza Colon-Zayas (Little Flower of East Orange) as Emilia, Saidah Arrika Ekulona (Ruined) as Montano/Bianca and LeRoy McClain (The Good Negro) as Cassio.

Sellars' production, according to the Public, "explores the new prospects for hope in 21st-century America giving the play a modern resonance that raises a mirror to our culture's racial struggles and achievements, both darkened and illuminated by overwhelming personal and political yearning."

"Peter Sellars is a brilliant, breath-taking, audacious director and his encounter with Othello has produced an absolutely unique and riveting production," Public Theater artistic director Oskar Eustis said in a statement. "It continues one of The Public's great traditions, that of making Shakespeare our contemporary and using his extraordinary work to throw light on our specific historical moment."

Othello will have scenic design by Gregor Holzinger, costume design by Mimi O'Donnell, lighting design by James F. Ingalls, with original music and sound design by Mark Grey.

Tickets for Othello begin sale Aug. 3. For tickets visit SkirballCenter, or phone (212) 352-3101. The Skirball Center is located at 566 LaGuardia Place at Washington Square South.