LaChanze, Deirdre O'Connell, Francis Jue, and Okieriete Onaodowan Join the Cast of Shakespeare in the Park Romeo & Juliet

The Public Theater has announced initial casting for the Free Shakespeare in the Park production of Romeo & Juliet at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. Directed by associate artistic director and resident director Saheem Ali, this is the first time in nearly 20 years that the Shakespeare play about two young lovers from warring families will be performed at Free Shakespeare in the Park. The production will run May 22-June 28, with an official press opening on June 11.

In this new staging, the play unfolds in English, but Romeo and Juliet speak to each other in Spanish, a language reserved only for their shared world.

The cast will feature Ra’Mya Latiah Aikens as Juliet, Sergio Mauritz Ang as Friar John/Ensemble, Daniel Bravo Hernández as Romeo, Andrés Nicolás Chaves as Ensemble, Rachel Crowl as Apothecary/Ensemble, Caleb Joshua Eberhardt as Mercutio, Francis Jue as Friar Laurence, Ariyan Kassam as Tybalt, LaChanze as Lady Capulet, Deirdre O’Connell as Nurse, Jason Manuel Olazábal as Lord Montague, Okieriete Onaodowan as Benvolio, Jessica Pimentel as Escalus, Mariand Torres as Lady Montague, and Marlon Xavier as Ensemble. Additional casting will be announced at a later date.

The production will feature scenic design by Maruti Evans, costume design by Oana Botez, lighting design by Christopher Akerlind, sound design by Mike Tracey, prop management by Jessica Zivny, original music composition by Michael Thurber, hair and wig design by Krystal Balleza, fight direction by Thomas Schall, and intimacy direction by Kelsey Rainwater.