Vikki Heywood, RSC's executive director, chats with Playbill.com and offers a glimpse into the preparation process for the RSC in NYC, including a look at the stage, wigs, costumes and dressing rooms at the New York City venue.

The 965-seat theatre was specifically designed as a freestanding structure to fit within the Armory's Wade Thompson Drill Hall. Forty-one actors and 21 musicians comprise the troupe, who offer As You Like It, Romeo and Juliet, King Lear, The Winter's Tale and Julius Caesar in repertory through Aug. 14.

As You Like It kicks off the performance schedule July 6, prior to an official opening July 7. RSC artistic director Michael Boyd directs a cast that includes Katy Stephens as Rosalind/Ganymede, Jonjo O'Neill as Orlando, Richard Katz as Touchstone, Mariah Gale as Celia, Geoffrey Freshwater as Corin, Forbes Masson as Jaques, Clarence Smith as Duke Ferdinand, Sandy Neilson as Duke Frederick, Charles Aitken as Oliver, James Tucker as Silvius and Christine Entwisle as Phoebe.

Romeo and Juliet will follow with performances beginning July 10. King Lear begins July 15, The Winter's Tale is set for July 21, and the final production, Julius Caesar, will begin July 28.

To check out the behind-the-scenes action, look below: