Karin Coonrod, who adapted and directed Henry VI, Parts 1 and 2 for the Public, stages the production that began previews Oct. 18 for a run through Nov. 6. It is a rich season of Shakespeare at the Public, with King Lear, starring Sam Waterston, in previews and an upcoming Lab production of Titus Andronicus, which will follow in November.

In addition to Lee (Yellowface, Pacific Overtures), Goldsberry (Good People, The Color Purple), Beck (Bridge Project's As You Like It, The Tempest) and Chappelle (Cyrano de Bergerac, A Cool Dip in the Barren Saharan Crick), the cast includes Rebecca Brooksher (Dying City), Reg E. Cathey, Jorge Chacon, Stephanie DiMaggio (A Free Man of Color), Francis Jue (Yellow Face, Pacific Overtures), Mousa Kraish, Steven Skybell (Pal Joey, Wicked), Robert Stanton (A Free Man of Color, Mary Stuart), Nick Westrate (A Moon for the Misbegotten) and Samira Wiley.

Designing Love's Labor's Lost are John Conklin (scenic design), Oana Botez Ban (costume design) and Brian H. Scott (lighting design).

According to the Public, "The King of France and his best buds swear off romance and withdraw into their studies…until some girls show up. As the young couples stumble their way toward love, the others in their circle — a pedantic school master, a Spanish dandy, a streetwise con-man, and a cop with a few screws loose — work through their own mad dilemmas. In the end, the real world intrudes and brings everyone back to earth, but not even a cold winter blast manages to chill the warmth of this beguiling play."

All Public Lab productions are $15. Phone (212) 967-7555 or visit PublicTheater. The Public Theater is located at 425 Lafayette Street in Manhattan.