Theater News

Public Forum and Public Shakespeare Initiative Fall Line-up Announced

Elizabeth Marvel will perform readings from ”Richard III”, ”Macbeth”, and more as part of a Public Shakespeare Initiative event.

Elizabeth Marvel will offer Shakespearean readings as part of Public Shakespeare Presents: Tyrant on October 2.
Elizabeth Marvel will offer Shakespearean readings as part of Public Shakespeare Presents: Tyrant on October 2.
(© Tricia Baron)

The Public Theater has announced the Public Forum and Public Shakespeare Initiative fall lineup to kick off its 2018-19 season of events.

Highlights of the upcoming season include the return of the monthly Civic Salon gatherings and Election Night Hootenanny on Tuesday, November 6, at 8pm in Joe's Pub.

The Public Shakespeare Initiative also begins its second season with Public Shakespeare Presents: Tyrant, set for October 2 at 8pm in the Newman Theater, which will include commentary from Stephen Greenblatt (Tyrant: Shakespeare on Politics) combined with readings by Elizabeth Marvel (Homeland, Julius Caesar) and others from Richard III, Macbeth, King Lear, and Coriolanus.

The season continues with Public Shakespeare Talks: This Player Here on Monday, October 29, at 7pm in the Anspacher Theater, during which Public Shakespeare Initiative director Michael Sexton will sit down with special-guest actors from the Public Theater's past and present to explore what working with Shakespeare has taught them about the magic of theater, their own craft, and their humanity.

On Sunday, November 11, at 7pm, the Public Shakespeare Initiative and the Mobile Unit join forces for Public Shakespeare Talks: Rare Visions in the Shiva Theater, featuring director Jenny Koons, Professor Jenny Mann, and cast members from the Mobile Unit's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

The Public Shakespeare Initiative will then collaborate with Jazz at Lincoln Center for Public Shakespeare Presents: Such Sweet Thunder on December 6 at 7pm at NYU Skirbal, featuring the Jazz at Lincoln Center Youth Orchestra performing selections from Duke Ellington's suite of songs inspired by the Bard.

Finally, Public Forum's holiday tradition Public Forum: The Long Christmas Dinner returns on Sunday, December 9, at 7pm in Joe's Pub.

Additional Public Forum programming includes artist talkbacks, Speaker Series panels, audience conversations, and the online resource Digiturgy.

For a complete list of events, click here.