The Bard is back! The Public Theater has announced its 51st Shakespeare in the Park season, which will include William Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors and a new musical adaptation of Love’s Labour’s Lost. Both productions will be presented at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park.
The Comedy of Errors will kick off the season on May 28, starring Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Dromio and Hamish Linklater as Antipholus. Daniel Sullivan will direct the production, which will run through June 30. Both Ferguson and Linklater are Shakespeare in the Park alumni, having starred in The Merchant of Venice and The Winter's Tale in 2010. No further casting has been announced.
The season continues July 23 through August 18 with director Alex Timbers’ musical adaptation of Love’s Labour’s Lost, featuring songs by Michael Friedman and a book and direction by Timbers. The duo previously worked together on the hit musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson at the Public. No casting has been announced.
Ferguson, now best known for his Emmy-nominated performance in ABC's Modern Family, has appeared in Public Theater productions of On the Town and A Midsummer Night's Dream. On Broadway, he starred in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and he appeared in the 2011 Hollywood Bowl production of The Producers.
Linklater most recently appeared on Broadway in Seminar and is the author of The Vandal, which is currently running at the Flea Theater. His off-Broadway credits include The School for Lies, The Busy World Is Hushed and Recent Tragic Events.
Both productions will feature scenic design by John Lee Beatty.