Guare, Laurents, Vogel, et al. Set for NYPL Shakespeare Programs

The New York Public Library will present A Rose by Any Other Name, a series of free seminars, discussions, performances, and screenings inspired by the works of William Shakespeare, at the Bruno Walter Auditorium at the Library for the Performing Arts (40 Lincoln Center Plaza).

The series will kick off at 6pm on Thursday, September 20 when librettist Arthur Laurents discusses the 50th anniversary of West Side Story. On Thursday, October 11 at 6pm, there will be a screening of Jerome Robbins’ ballet, West Side Story Suite, with commentary by author Amanda Valli.

Among the many highlights of the series are discussions with playwright John Guare (October 4), choreographer Lar Lubovitch (November 3), theater critic John Simon (November 19), playwright Paula Vogel (November 26), and choreographer Peter Martins (December 6); a reading of the play Herbie: Poet of the Wild West, based on Hamlet (November 5); a panel discussion featuring designers Jane Greenwood, Natasha Katz, Ming Cho Lee, and Michael Yeargan (November 8); a reading of the re-written final act of Cymbeline, read by actors from Lincoln Center Theater’s upcoming production of the play (December 10); and jazz pianist Dick Hyman’s setting of Shakespeare’s songs (December 12).

For more information, call 212-642-0142 or visit www.nypl.org/lpaprograms.