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The Tempest
The Tempest

Renée Elise Goldsberry to Star in Shakespeare in the Park’s The Tempest

The Public Theater has announced casting today for the Free Shakespeare in the Park production of Public Works’ The Tempest, a new musical adaptation with music and lyrics by Benjamin Velez, choreography by Tiffany Rea-Fisher, and directed by Obie Award winner and Director of Public Works Laurie Woolery. The production will play for a limited week-long engagement, running at The Delacorte Theater from Sunday, August 27 through Sunday, September 3.

Leading the cast will be Tony Award winner Renée Elise Goldsberry as Prospero, marking her first return to the theatrical stage since her iconic performance in the original Broadway cast of Hamilton. In addition, the cast will include Tristan André (Sebastian), Brianna Cabrera (Spirit Ancestor Lead Singer), Sabrina Cedeño (Trinculo), Anthony Chatmon II (Antonio), Jo Lampert (Ariel), Patrick O’Hare (Spirit Ancestor Lead Singer), Joel Perez (Stephano), Edwin Rivera (Spirit Ancestor Lead Singer), and Theo Stockman (Caliban).

“Eleven years into the great experiment that is Public Works, we have thrived as a community, both locally and internationally, by centering our practice in joyful art making and also enduring grief and profound loss: loss of loved ones, jobs, opportunities, and milestone moments,” shared Director of Public Works Laurie Woolery. “For the past several years, we have all been living on our own desert islands wondering when the scales of justice are going to balance out. Our grief has turned to anger. But what happens when we pass anger, grief, sorrow, and grudges on to the next generation? Is it possible to heal and liberate our children from having to take up our pain? I read that if we can break generational cycles of trauma, we can heal the next hundred years. I like that invitation. This is how I found my way back to The Tempest.”

Public Works’ The Tempest will be the final Free Shakespeare in the Park production at The Delacorte Theater before it is temporarily closed for renovations to improve accessibility, audience comfort, back-of-house operations, and to re-clad the facade in reclaimed wood sourced from around New York City, thus reducing the carbon footprint of the project.

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