Twelfth Night Musical to Play The Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park

The Public Theater has announced that its 2016 Public Works production, to be presented for free at the Delacorte Theater, will be an adaptation of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, according to The New York Times. As previously announced, Kwame Kwei-Armah, artistic director of Baltimore's CenterStage, and acclaimed songwriter Shaina Taub will create the musical.

Kwei-Armah and Taub follow in the footsteps of director Lear deBessonet and composer Todd Almond, who collaborated on The Winter's Tale (2014) and The Tempest (2013). The production will have music and lyrics by Taub and directed by Kwei-Armah. DeBessonet will continue to oversee the initiative's year-round activities as the director of Public Works. Taub told The Times that the production will be set in a port city during a carnival.

In addition, The Public recently announced plans to work with three affiliated theaters throughout the U.S. to create community-based inspired productions in the Public Works model for more national impact. The theaters are Dallas Theater Center in collaboration with SMU Meadows School of the Arts, Seattle Repertory Theatre, and Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit.

The Public Theater's annual Public Work productions feature hundreds of actors and community members, including many community groups, performing alongside professional, equity actors.