The Public Theater brought repertory back to Shakespeare in the Park programming in 2010 with its double-bill of the Bard's work. A unified company of actors, with the exception of four leading players, was assembled for the summer run.
Tony Award nominee Michael Greif (Rent, Next to Normal) helmed Winter's Tale, which began June 9 and officially opened July 1. Tony Award-winning director Daniel Sullivan (Proof) staged Merchant, which began previews June 12 and opened June 30.
The Winter's Tale starred Tony Award nominee Linda Emond (Life (x) 3, A Spanish Play) as wronged queen Hermione and Tony winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson (Seven Guitars, Jelly's Last Jam) as the king who cracks, Leontes.
Merchant of Venice boasted Academy Award winner Al Pacino as Jewish moneylender Shylock, opposite Lily Rabe (Steel Magnolias, Heartbreak House) as Portia.
On July 26, the Public Theater announced that it had teamed with Jeffrey Richards and Jerry Frankel to present a limited 78-performance Broadway engagement of Merchant at the Broadhurst Theatre beginning in October. Pacino will reprise his performance, which is also captured in Michael Radford's 2004 screen adaptation of the film. No other casting for the Broadway run has been announced. The Shakespeare in the Park repertory acting company also featured Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Young Shepherd/Lord/Launcelot Gobbo), Jesse L. Martin (Polixenes/Gratiano), Max Wright (Old Shepherd/Prince of Arragon), Bill Heck (Lord/Lorenzo), Hamish Linklater (Autolycus/Lord/Bassanio), Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Paulina/Nerissa), Gerry Bamman (Antigonus/Duke of Venice), Francois Battiste (Florizel/Lord/Salerio), Byron Jennings (Camillo/Antonio), Heather Lind (Perdita/Jessica), Nyambi Nyambi (Lord/Prince of Morocco), Matthew Rauch (Dion/Jailer/Solanio) and Richard Topol (Lord/Tubal).
The ensemble included Happy Anderson, Liza J. Bennett, Tyler Caffall, Cary Donaldson, Luke Forbes, Bryce Gill, Shalita Grant, Jade Hawk, Bethany Heinrich, Tia James, Kelsey Kurz, Brian Macdonald, Alexander Maier, Dorien Makhloghi and Joe Short.
The productions were designed by Mark Wendland (scenic design), Jess Goldstein (costume design for Merchant), Clint Ramos (costume design for Winter's Tale), Kenneth Posner (lighting design) and Acme Sound Partners (sound design).
Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Tom Kitt composed the score to The Winter's Tale, while Dan Moses Schreier penned original music for Merchant of Venice.
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The closest entrances to the Delacorte are located at 81st Street and Central Park West or 79th Street and Fifth Avenue.
