Tonya Pinkins, John Cullum & More Sign On for 2011 Shakespeare in the Park Productions

Casting has been announced for the Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park repertory productions of All’s Well That Ends Well and Measure for Measure. Tony winners John Cullum and Tonya Pinkins are among the veteran actors leading the rotating productions and, as previously announced, Shakespeare in the Park vet Daniel Sullivan (The Merchant of Venice) will helm All’s Well That Ends Well, and David Esbojrnson (Broadway’s Driving Miss Daisy) will direct Measure for Measure. The plays are scheduled to run from June 6 through July 3.

Two-time Tony winner John Cullum (Shenandoah, On the Twentieth Century) will do double duty as the lord Escalus in Measure and the King of France in All’s Well. Pinkins (Jelly’s Last Jam; Caroline, or Change) will play the brothel madam Mistress Overdone and Countess. Annie Parisse (Becky Shaw, Prelude to a Kiss) will play Mariana and Helena, and Michael Hayden (Carousel) will play Angelo and Second Brother Dumaine.

Andre Holland (The Whipping Man) joins the cast as Claudio and Bertram, Reg Rogers (A Free Man of Color) as Lucio and Parolles, and Danai Gurira ( Joe Turner’s Come and Gone ) will join the company for only Measure for Measure, playing female lead Isabella. Rounding out the cast are Diane Davis (Juliet/Diana), Carson Elrod (Pompey/Interpreter), Joe Forbrich (Friar/Duke of Florence), Jordan Lund (Abhorson/Rinaldo), David Manis (Elbow/Lavatch), Caitlin O’Connell (Nun/Widow), Lorenzo Pisoni (Duke/First Brother Dumaine) and Lucas Caleb Rooney (Barnadine/Gentleman).

Shakespeare in the Park will feature scenic design by Scott Pask, costume design by Elizabeth Hope Clancy (Measure for Measure) and Jane Greenwood (All’s Well That Ends Well); lighting design by Peter Kaczorowski. original music by John Gromada (Measure for Measure) and Tom Kitt (All’s Well That Ends Well); and sound design by Acme Sound Partners.