Playbill News: Public Theater to Offer Two Summer Productions at the Delacorte

Two productions will be offered this summer at Shakespeare in Central Park. The New York Times reports that both As You Like It and A Midsummer Night's Dream will be presented in summer 2005 at the Delacorte Theater. The stagings will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Public Theater.

The Rivals' Mark Lamos, a Tony nominee for his direction of Our Country's Good, will helm Shakespeare's As You Like It, which will run June 25-July 17. Outgoing Public Theater producer George C. Wolfe will direct the second summer Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream. Dream is scheduled to play the Delacorte Aug. 9-Sept. 4.

Summer 2005 will mark the first time in four years that the Public has presented two separate Shakespeare productions. Public Theater executive director Mara Manus told the Times that increased donations for the Public's 50th anniversary will allow two productions this coming summer. 'Financially, we're in a much better place,' explained Manus"