Shakespeare in the Park Casting Announced

[Katurian2]

Posted: 3/28/11 at 5:17pm

ETA: Here's the link to the BWW story: https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/John_Cullum_Annie_Parisse_et_al_Set_for_2011_Shakespeare_in_the_Park_20110328

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The 2011 repertory company for MEASURE FOR MEASURE and ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL consecutively, includes John Cullum (Escalus/King of France), Diane Davis (Juliet/Diana), Carson Elrod (Pompey/Interpreter), Joe Forbrich (Friar/Duke of Florence), Danai Gurira (Isabella in Measure for Measure), Michael Hayden (Angelo/Second Brother Dumaine), André Holland (Claudio/Bertram), Jordan Lund (Abhorson/Rinaldo), David Manis (Elbow/Lavatch), Dakin Matthews (Provost/Lafew), Caitlin O'Connell (Nun/Widow), Annie Parisse (Mariana/Helena), Lorenzo Pisoni (Duke/First Brother Dumaine), Reg Rogers (Lucio/Parolles), Lucas Caleb Rooney (Barnadine /Gentleman), and Tonya Pinkins (Mistress Overdone/Countess)."


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Color me totally unexcited. I'm happy for Tonya Pinkins that she's getting work again, but I was unenthusiastic before, and this does nothing to make me want to go more.

Updated On: 3/28/11 at 05:17 PM

[thismyshow]

Posted: 3/28/11 at 5:21pm

not exactly excited, only thing the low name cast makes me hope is that people wont camp out for 8 hours to get tickets

[Katurian2]

Posted: 3/28/11 at 5:22pm

haha, srsly. It's a bit gutsy of them to not only go with a not-so known cast, but also to tackle 'problem plays' like these. I'm counting on being able to leisurely walk up around the afternoon ticket handout like I did last year for 'Winter's Tale.'

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/28/11 at 5:26pm

Aaaaaah! Tonya Pinkins!! Well this just made my week.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/28/11 at 5:36pm

I see once again that The Public Theatre has ignored my advice to produce "Taming of the Shrew" starring Jon Hamm and Sara Ramirez.

Ok, fine. Then I won't tell them the other great show I want done.

(Gothampc starts dialing Fran & Barry)

Updated On: 3/28/11 at 05:36 PM

[AC126748]

Posted: 3/28/11 at 5:38pm

Well, my excitement can make up for your lack of it. It's nice to see that they've gone the route of getting talented actors rather than relying on names only. Having seen actors like Michael Hayden, John Cullum and Reg Rogers do Shakespeare brilliantly, I'm glad to see them represented here. Tonya Pinkins will be a perfect Mistress Overdone.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 3/28/11 at 5:46pm

I empathize Gothampc. I've been asking Ford's Theatre in DC to put on 'Assassins' for years now, and they keep ignoring me.

And isn't it possible to get actors who are big names AND can act brilliantly? Al Pacino was absolutely phenomenal last summer, and a big draw.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 3/28/11 at 6:20pm

Well, well. well...a former student of mine is doing well. I taught Joe Forbrich 10th grade English. He played the lead in BRIGADOON in his senior year.

Glad to know he's succeeding!

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/28/11 at 6:31pm

Ok, I'm giving the Public Theatre one more chance to win back my loyalty. Here is what I wanted produced (and video recorded)

Midsummer Night's Dream

Puck - Abigail Breslin
Oberon - Colin Firth
Titania - Kim Cattrall
Helena - Reese Witherspoon
Demetrius -Bradley Cooper
Hermia - Martha Plimpton
Lysander - Jesse Tyler Ferguson

The Mechanicals:
Paul Giamatti
Loretta Devine
Chi McBride
Jane Lynch
Nathan Lane
Amy Sedaris

Updated On: 3/28/11 at 06:31 PM

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 3/28/11 at 6:46pm

My first thought was also, "With this cast, maybe I won't have to get up crazy-early to get in line." I don't think that's a bad thing, either; I don't think big names are necessary. There are some great actors in this group and some that I look forward to being introduced to.

[LuminousBeing]

Posted: 3/28/11 at 6:46pm

Um . . . don't you mean "A Midsummer Night's Dream?"

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/28/11 at 7:28pm

^^^ Oops, yes I do.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 3/28/11 at 11:08pm

I must admit, I'm terribly disappointed not to see Hamish Linklater amongst the cast. For the past two summers he made Shakespeare in the Park for me.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 3/28/11 at 11:14pm

I admire them for not going the celebrity route. I don't know what it will mean for ticket sales, but ah well...

[tking001]

Posted: 3/28/11 at 11:32pm

This may sound like a stupid question so Im sorry im advance if it does
but im wondering how does Shakespeare in the park make money, if most of the tickets are free?
Yes I know they have those summer supporter donations and members of the public who pay for seats but most of the tickets seem to be given out on the day of the show for free.
So my question is how do they make the money to keep doing it every summer? (paying the actors, crew etc.)

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/29/11 at 12:32am

"how does Shakespeare in the park make money"

Shakespeare in the Park is underwritten by The Public Theatre. The Public Theatre has many advantages.

It's a non-profit organization and can get all sorts of tax breaks. Its work is well known and can get lots of government money.

The Public Theatre has a subscriber base and many wealth donors.

The Public Theatre gets huge corporate sponsorship. In the past, it has received money from Target and JP Morgan Chase.

The Public Theatre has reaped financial benefit from A Chorus Line. The Public allowed ACL to workshop in their theater in exchange for future royalties.

Shakespeare in the Park doesn't pay huge salaries, most of the people work for union scale or as interns. Additionally, most of the expense of The Delacorte Theater in Central Park is underwritten by the taxpayers and wealthy donors that make up such organizations as The Central Park Conservancy.

The gift shop and snack stand don't bring in much, but there is a tiny profit from those areas.

Updated On: 3/29/11 at 12:32 AM

[yay_gerb]

Posted: 3/29/11 at 11:12am

I think I also remember someone on this board saying that the actors get a salary, but they donate it right back to the public. Correct me if i'm wrong.

[bwayrose2]

Posted: 3/29/11 at 11:25am

There are so many inaccuracies in the last two posts that even though I haven't posted in months, I thought I would jump in :)

My roommate worked for Shakespeare in the Park/The Public for MANY years so here is what I know:

Government money is very little of the overall budget. There is no federal and no state money that goes to Shakespeare in the Park. There is some city money, which I gather in the past two years has gone down by a bit. It is a myth that this is paid for by taxpayer money. The amount of government money is actually tiny.

There is no "subscriber base" - the public has memberships that are $55 each. The money from that goes to fund downtown shows.

The Public must raise money like with all of it's shows - they have corporate sponsors, foundations and private individuals who must donate to keep it going. The only difference is it has no ticket sales so it must raise all of the money, not just some of the money like you do with most shows.

CHORUS LINE money is no longer a factor since the show is not running anymore.

I have never heard of actors donating their salaries back. This is their job. Everyone except a few interns get paid -- all the crew, designers, actors, concession people and the ushers. Union scale is what everyone in this business, except stars on Broadway, get paid. In grad school, we called it "the minimum as maximum." Producers don't give much more than the minimum.