Way above the Delacorte Theater. (Photo by Scott Dunn)
Shakespeare In The Park is set to return next month with a romantic comedy followed by tragedy—this year productions of Much Ado About Nothing and King Lear will entertain the patient masses at the Delacorte in Central Park.
The latest news surrounding the summer series is the announcement of Annette Bening making her return to the New York stage (which she hasn't appeared on since 1988). Bening will join John Lithgow in King Lear, which will run from July 22nd through August 17th. She'll play the part of the terribly awful and absolutely wicked Goneril, daughter to Lithgow's Lear. (Fun fact: King Lear has not been seen in the Park since 1973.)
Before all that, the Jack O’Brien-directed production of Much Ado About Nothing will kick off the The Public's season at the Delacorte. This stars Hamish Linklater and Tony Lily Rabe as Benedick and Beatrice—it runs from June 3rd through July 6th.
As a reminder: free tickets are distributed, two per person (age 5+), at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park beginning at noon on the day of each performance. The Virtual Ticketing Lottery will be available beginning Tuesday, June 3rd, on the day of the show at www.publictheater.org. The Delacorte Theater is accessible by entering at 81st Street and Central Park West, or 79th Street and Fifth Avenue.
