Shakespeare in the Park 2018 season: Othello & Twelfth Night

The Public Theater has announced their summer season.

"This summer, Free Shakespeare in the Park will feature the great tragedy OTHELLO (May 29-June 24), directed by Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson and an all-new staging of the critically-acclaimed Public Works musical adaptation of TWELFTH NIGHT (July 17-August 19), conceived by Kwame Kwei-Armah and Shaina Taub, with music and lyrics by Shaina Taub, and directed by The Public’s Artistic Director Oskar Eustis and Kwame Kwei-Armah."

Thoughts?

https://publictheater.org/Programs--Events/Shakespeare-in-the-Park/SITP-Tickets/

With CSC and TFNA both doing Twelfth Night this season, I'm Twelfth Night-ed out.

Shaina Taub's brilliant musical adaptation of Twelfth Night is among one of my favorite experiences I've ever had in a theater, among 200+ shows. It's magnificent. So excited it's returning! You're in for a real treat.

AntV said: "Ew, a public works production instead of a normal production. Never saw any, never was interested, but guess I'll see how this one is, I know people have raved about Twelfth Night in particular. Though I hated the amateurish broad Midsummer last year by the former Public Works director."

The Public Works productions have been an annual highlight of the summer- wonderfully joyous celebrations of art and community that showcase diverse groups of talented New Yorkers from all 5 boroughs. So don't dismiss it with an uninformed, ignorant "ew."

And that director was Lear DeBessonet, an acclaimed and often brilliant director in her own right, even with a less successful production like that Midsummer to her name.

SomethingPeculiar said: "Adrian Lester"



(André Holland is playing Othello, not Adrian Lester)

SomethingPeculiar said: "adamgreer said: "They've gotta have a star lined up for Othello, right?"

Surprised they’re doing OTHELLOso close tothe Daniel Craig/David Oyelowo production at NYTW,and the upcoming Mark Rylance/Andre Holland**/Globe Theatre revival in London. (And Bartlett Sher’s production at the Met and the short-livedOthello Remix Off Broadway). But maybe they have a great cast in place.

Their musical TWELFTH NIGHT was wonderful.



(EDIT thanks for catching that jbroadway, I was thinking of the National Theatre production with Adrian Lester!)"



Mark Rylance’s next role is Iago??? Why does it have to be in London? That’s gonna be great.

I'm absolutely thrilled that the Twelfth Night musical is returning, and with a longer run! This was one of my favorite shows in 2016 and I've had the songs stuck in my head since then. Andrew Kober announced on Twitter that he'll be reprising his role as Malvolio, which makes me so happy -- his comedic talent and his voice are perfect for the role. Looking forward to hearing who else will round out the cast.

Looks like a solid cast of professionals (and I'm excited to see Corey Stoll as Iago particularly). It's definitely not a flashy season this year though (particularly considering that the second play is essentially a "rerun".

I saw Henry IV is being staged outdoors in L.A. this summer, directed by Daniel Sullivan, starring Tom Hanks and Hammish Linklater. Seems like the type of production NYC used to get.