Photo Flash: Ferguson & Martin Join Pacino For Shakespeare In The Park 2010, Previews 6/9

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) will begin Shakespeare in the Park performances on Wednesday, June 9 with the first preview of THE WINTER'S TALE, directed by Michael Greif. THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, directed by Daniel Sullivan, will begin performances on Saturday, June 12. Both shows will play in repertory through Sunday, August 1 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park.

THE WINTER'S TALE
Directed by Michael Greif
With Happy Anderson, Gerry Bamman, Francois Battiste, Liza J. Bennett, Tyler Caffall, Cary Donaldson, Linda Emond, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Luke Forbes, Shalita Grant, Bill Heck, Bethany Heinrich, Tia James, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Byron Jennings, Heather Lind, Hamish Linklater, Alexander Maier, Jesse L. Martin, Nyambi Nyambi, Matthew Rauch, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Richard Topol and Max Wright

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
Directed by Daniel Sullivan
With Happy Anderson, Gerry Bamman, Francois Battiste, Liza J. Bennett, Tyler Caffall, Cary Donaldson, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Luke Forbes, Bryce Gill, Shalita Grant, Jade Hawk, Bill Heck, Tia James, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Byron Jennings, Kelsey Kurz, Heather Lind, Hamish Linklater, BrIan MacDonald, Dorien Makhloghi, Jesse L. Martin, Nyambi Nyambi, Al Pacino, Lily Rabe, Matthew Rauch, Joe Short, Richard Topol and Max Wright

2010 Shakespeare in the Park Ticket Information
Tickets to Shakespeare in the Park are free and are distributed, two per person, at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park at 1 p.m. the day of the show. This summer, The Public Theater will again offer free tickets through our Virtual Ticketing, available at www.shakespeareinthepark.org.

Virtual Ticketing will be the same as last year where on the day of a show, users can log on to our website anytime between midnight and 1 p.m. to register for that evening's performance. After 1 p.m. that same day, users can log on to see if they have received tickets through Virtual Ticketing; Recipients will also be sent a confirmation email by 5 p.m. if they have received tickets for that evening's performance. Virtual Ticketing recipients are chosen at random to receive tickets, not in the order requests are received.

In the tradition of Joe Papp, Summer Supporter tickets for THE WINTER'S TALE and THE MERCHANT OF VENICE are available in packages of two tickets for a tax-deductible contribution of $350. The two tickets can be used in any combination for this summer's Shakespeare in the Park productions. These reserved seats are only available for a limited time to ensure that the highest number of free seats will be available to distribute to the general public on the day of the show. Summer Supporter tickets help to underwrite free Shakespeare in the Park.

Summer Supporter donations can be made at The Public Theater Box Office at 425 Lafayette Street or online at www.publictheater.org. Beginning this summer, seating locations for Summer Supporters and Public Theater Partners will be allocated strictly by giving level.

In the event of rain, the start of the performance may be delayed. However, the production will be performed if and when it is possible to do so. Please be aware that rain at 7:30 PM may clear by the start of the show, and no performance will be cancelled before 8 :00 PM. If a performance is canceled due to rain or any other reason, tickets obtained via the line at the Delacorte Theater or through Virtual Ticketing are not valid for re-issue or exchange.

For additional information about Shakespeare in the Park, visit www.shakespeareinthepark.org or call (212) 539-8750.

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus