By Amy Somensky Mar 16, 2007, 4:44 GMT
New York: The Public Theater's Artistic Director Oskar Eustis and Executive Director Mara Manus are proud to announce that Shakespeare in the Park 2007 will offer "Free Love in Central Park." A Midsummer Night's Dream, Shakespeare's lyrical comedy, directed by Daniel Sullivan will be the second offering at the Delacorte, following a production of the Bard's great and beloved tragedy Romeo and Juliet directed by Michael Greif, featuring Oscar Isaac as Romeo and Lauren Ambrose as Juliet. The run for both productions has been increased from four to five weeks to increase accessibility. Henry IV, Part I with Brian Dennehy, previously scheduled for this summer, has been postponed due to scheduling conflicts among the artistic team.
02/22/2004 - Lauren Ambrose - 10th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards - Press Room - Shrine Auditorium - Los Angeles, CA © Scott Alan / Photorazzi
Artistic Director Oskar Eustis said "Last year, 'War in Central Park' used Brecht and Shakespeare to reflect the bleak state of our current politics. This summer, we will look at the most powerful healing force humans have: the power of love. Two thousand and seven is the fortieth anniversary of the Summer of Love, and we hope to revisit the utopian and joyous impulses of that era through the medium of two of the greatest of Shakespeare's plays, Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night's Dream."
Romeo and Juliet has not been performed at the Delacorte in almost 40 years, since 1968; it will begin previews on Tuesday, June 5th with performances continuing through July 8th. A Midsummer Night's Dream was last performed at Shakespeare in the Park in 1991, by Brazil's Teatro do Ornitorrinco entirely in Portugese; the last production in English was in 1983. Previews will begin Tuesday, August 6th with performances running through Sunday, September 9th.
Oscar Isaac returns to The Public after playing Proteus in the 2005 revival of Two Gentlemen of Verona, the musical. He recently made his feature film debut as Joseph in Catherine Hardwicke's The Nativity Story. Lauren Ambrose will be making her Public Theater debut this summer. Her theater credits include Awake and Sing! and Buried Child.
Performances of Shakespeare in the Park will be Tuesday Through Sunday at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are free and will be available on the day of the performance (two per person) at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park beginning at 1:00 p.m. and at The Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street (near Astor Place), from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The closest entrances to the Delacorte are at 81st Street and Central Park West or 70th Street and Fifth Avenue.
For additional information about Shakespeare in the Park, call (212) 539-8750 or visit The Public Theater website at www.publictheater.org.
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