Celebrating Shakespeare's 442nd birthday, the event kicks off at 3:30 PM. The celebration, according to press notes, features "stage and screen actors reading the Bard's plays and poetry, and singers and musicians performing music inspired by and based on Shakespeare's work." Those scheduled to take part in the afternoon include Robert Sean Leonard, Avery Brooks, Mark Linn Baker, Marcia Gay Harden, Keith David, Philip Bosco, Denis O’Hare, Estelle Parsons, Kathleen Chalfant, Michael Cumpsty, Elizabeth Marvel, Maria Tucci, Marian Seldes, Amy Ryan, Peter Jay Fernandez, Matt Rauch, Kate Forbes, Paul Calderon, Christian Camargo and Fritz Weaver. Hosts for the marathon will include Symphony Space Artistic Director Isaiah Sheffer and scholars Krisin Linklater and Marjorie Garber.

“It is the goal of The Shakespeare Society to encourage and foster the appreciation of Shakespeare's genius and what better time than his 442nd Birthday,” said Shakespeare Society co-founders Nancy Becker and Adriana Mnuchin in a recent statement. “We wanted to offer the marathon as a gift to the city and invite everyone to come celebrate with us at this free community event."

Peter Norton Symphony Space is located in New York at 95th Street and Broadway. For more information visit www.shakespearesociety.org.