Cymbeline Previews Begin July 23 in Park

Hamish Linklater and Lily Rabe (center) and the company of Cymbeline in rehearsal for The Public Theater’s Free Shakespeare in the Park production of Cymbeline, directed by Daniel Sullivan, running at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park July 23 through Aug. 23. Photo: Tammy Shell.

Fear no more the heat o' the sun
Nor the furious winter's rages;
Thou thy worldly task hast done,
Home art gone, and ta'en thy wages:
Golden lads and girls all must,
As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.
-- Guiderius

Previews for Cymbeline, the second show of The Public’s Free Shakespeare in the Park season at the Delacorte begin Thursday, July 23. 

Directed by Tony Award winner Daniel Sullivan, Cymbeline will run through Sunday, Aug. 23, with an official opening on Monday, Aug. 10.

The complete cast for Cymbeline features Teagle F. Bougere (Caius Lucius, Cornelius), Kate Burton (Queen, Belarius), Raúl Esparza (Iachimo), David Furr (Guiderius, First Lord), Hamish Linklater (Leonatus, Posthumus Cloten), Jacob Ming-Trent (Arviragus, First Gentleman), Patrick Page (Cymbeline); Lily Rabe (Imogen), Steven Skybell (Pisanio, Gaoler, Frenchman), and Emma Duncan, Tim Nicolai and David Ryan Smith.

A Shakespearean fairytale, Cymbeline is the story of Princess Imogen’s fidelity that is put to the royal test when her disapproving father banishes her soul mate. Cross-dressing girls and cross-dressing boys, poisons and swordfights and dastardly villains all take the stage in this enchanting romp about the conquering power of love.

Cymbeline features scenic design by Riccardo Hernandez, costume design by David Zinn, lighting design by David Lander, sound design by Acme Sound Partners, hair and wig design by Charles G. LaPointe, original music by Tom Kitt, and choreography by Mimi Lieber.

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 Thursday, July 23, on the day of the show at www.publictheater.org. The Delacorte Theater is accessible by entering at 81^st Street and Central Park West, or 79^th Street and Fifth Avenue.

This summer a limited number of vouchers will also be distributed downtown at The Public Theater at 425 Lafayette St. Beginning Thursday, July 23 vouchers will be distributed via an in-person lottery on the day of each performance. Sign-up for the lottery will begin in the Ford Foundation Lobby of The Public at 11:30 am and the lottery will be drawn at noon. If selected, each entrant is allowed two vouchers, and each voucher is good for one ticket. Vouchers must be redeemed for tickets at the Delacorte Theater Box Office in Central Park between 5 and 7 pm for the performance on the day the voucher is issued.

The Public and TodayTix will also offer tickets to Shakespeare in the Park via mobile lottery app. A pair of tickets will be available for each performance of Cymbeline beginning on July 23. The lottery will begin each day at midnight for the performance that same day, and winners will be notified by 2 pm. Winners will pick up the tickets at the Delacorte Theater box office between 5 and 7:30 pm.

Since 1962, over five million people have enjoyed more than 150 free productions of Shakespeare and other classical works and musicals at the Delacorte Theater. Conceived by founder Joe Papp as a way to make great theater accessible to all, The Public’s Free Shakespeare in the Park continues to be the bedrock of the Company’s mission to increase access and engage the community.

BOROUGH DISTRIBUTION: In addition to the ticket line at the Delacorte Theater and Virtual Ticketing online, a limited number of vouchers for specific performances will be distributed, while supplies last, at locations throughout New York’s five boroughs. Each person in line is allowed two vouchers and each voucher is good for one ticket for that evening’s performance. Vouchers must be exchanged for tickets at the Delacorte Theater Box Office that day from 5 and 7 pm. 

       

For Cymbeline, ticket vouchers will be distributed, while supplies last, on Wednesday, July 29 in Staten Island at Snug Harbor Cultural Center (1000 Richmond Terrace); Thursday, July 30 in the Bronx at DreamYard (1085 Washington Ave.); Friday, July 31 in Brooklyn at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum (145 Brooklyn Ave.); and Saturday, Aug. 1 in Queens at the Queens Museum (New York City Building).