Photo Coverage: Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski, Kevin Kline & More Return to the Public for THE UNITED STATES OF SHAKESPEARE!

Just last night, The Public Theater presented its Annual Gala, THE UNITED STATES OF SHAKESPEARE at the Delacorte Theater. Directed by Jeremy McCarter, the always highly-anticipated gala included scenes from Shakespeare's greatest works and the American poems, songs, and stories they inspired, performed by some of The Public's and the nation's, most celebrated actors and musicians.

BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the big night below!

THE UNITED STATES OF SHAKESPEARE featured F. Murray Abraham, Sasha Allen, Sarah Amengual, Lemon Andersen, Christine Baranski, Kate Burton, Michael Cerveris, Michael Friedman, Bill Irwin, Kevin Kline, Lisa Kron, Michael John LaChiusa, Heather Lind, Hamish Linklater, Suzan-Lori Parks, Steven Pasquale, Lily Rabe, Phylicia Rashad, Jay O. Sanders,Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Jimmy Smits, Meryl Streep, Jeanine Tesori, and John DouglasThompson; and The Public's Shakespeare Scholar in Residence Jim Shapiro, with musical direction by Chris Fenwick.

Since 1962, over five million people have enjoyed more than 150 free productions of Shakespeare and other classical works and musicals at the Delacorte Theater. Conceived by Joe Papp as a way to make great theater accessible to all, The Public's free Shakespeare in the Park continues to be the bedrock of the Company's mission to increase access and engage the community.

Photo Credit: Jennifer Broski