Interview: Patti Murin Talks LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST in the Park, LYSISTRATA JONES Movie & More!

The second show of The Public's free Shakespeare in the Park season, LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST, directed by Alex Timbers, with songs by Michael Friedman and book adaptation by Alex Timbers, will begin previews on Tuesday, July 23 and run through Sunday, August 18, with an official press opening on Monday, August 12.

The cast of the musical LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST features Daniel Breaker (King of Navarre), Kevin Del Aguila (Dull), Colin Donnell (Berowne), Andrew Durand (Boyet), Kimiko Glenn (Maria), Jeff Hiller (Nathaniel), Rebecca Naomi Jones (Jaquenetta), Justin Levine (Moth), Patti Murin (Princess), Lucas Near-Verbrugghe (Dumaine), Bryce Pinkham (Longaville), Charlie Pollock (Costard), Caesar Samayoa (Don Armado), Maria Thayer (Rosaline), and Audrey Lynn Weston (Katherine).

BroadwayWorld recently chatted with Patti Murin about bringing the new musical to the Delacorte stage. Check out what she had to say below!

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You start tech this week, correct? How's coming along?

Tech starts tomorrow at 2pm in the park. It's gonna be a long week! And it's like 100 degrees all week! But it's all going so incredibly well. The cast is absolutely spectacular- every single person. It's an ensemble cast but there is no ensemble. Everyone has his own character. It's gonna be the kind of show where I just sit and watch every single night, every minute that I'm not on stage just to see what everyone is doing.

We had some great rehearsals at Pace [University] and Alex Timbers and Michael Friedman are pretty special guys. It's actually a little bit like summer camp right now. We're all so excited. And only one of us has worked in the park before so that's neat because it's new for everybody.

How would you describe this interpretation of the play?

This is set in modern times. It's a five-year college reunion, so five years after this young group of people graduated from a college in the northeast. Basically, there are four girls and four guys and it's a bit of a war of the sexes. The girls have some business to do with the guys, with their families and their fathers. My character, 'Princess,' dated the King, who is played by Daniel Breaker, and he is maybe one of my very favorite people that I've ever gotten to play opposite.

So the girls go to the guys to conduct their business, but the boys have taken an oath to not see women for three years and to spend the time to study and get serious about life. So we sort of ruin their plan. And of course people fall in love and out of love, and it all ends in a way that you would never, ever expect. Ever.

Is this the first project that you've done with The Public Theater?

It is! This is my first time and it's so incredibly exciting. They're such a family there. It's been sort of strange because we rehearse downtown at Pace so we haven't actually been in the building at Lafayette, except for some random fittings and for a meet and greet. So I think it's been really different for them because it's like a campus there- there are always casts wandering around and everything. So it's taken a bit more effort to get to know everyone, but they're so welcoming and have treated us incredibly well.

And Oskar Eustis is the most warm-hearted, loving man. He just walks into a room and he makes everyone happy.

The Delacorte Theater has such an incredible atmosphere- I'm sure you must be excited to perform there...

I am! It's funny though because I've never actually seen anything there! Every time I've gotten tickets it has rained. I've lived in New York for 11 years and literally EVERY time! I tried to see COMEDY OF ERRORS twice this year and both were rained out. I was supposed to go to the opening night but I couldn't just because I didn't want to sit out in the rain and get sick. I guess I'm a bit overprotective of myself... So my first time at the Delacorte will be performing there!

I've listened to all of the preview audio tracks for the show, and I saw that you sing a song called "Hey Boys"?

That's the first song that the girls sing at the party. We're a little bit drunken, and it's kind of our introduction. There's an opening sequence with the boys. They take their oaths and swear their vows and disappear to their houses and we burst onto the scene and sing that to get their attention.

We get to come on in our incredibly gorgeous party dresses. The costumes in this are stunning. So stunning! So that's our introduction to the audience.

What has it been like getting to work with Alex Timbers?

It's been amazing. He has a way of working that makes everyone feel so comfortable. And he's also very loyal- he works with people that he has worked with before, so he knows what to expect form everyone when they walk in the door. He's very laid back and even-tempered. He loves to joke around, but you also know when he wants to get serious. He's so smart and willing to listen to everyone's ideas; everyone's input; everyone's questions. If he doesn't have an answer he just says, "Well I don't have an answer for that, but we'll figure it out!" He never pretends to know what he's talking about when he doesn't, and that can be rare.

He's just set up such a great environment for all of us, and when they say 'safe space' it's not always the case even though it's supposed to be. But this has truly been that with all of the people that he's brought on. So he's pretty awesome, and he's kinda taking over the world right now!

What are you most excited about in bringing this to the stage?

Oh my gosh! I think this is one of the most perfect summer shows that could ever be in existence. I guess I'm most excited for people to see what we've been working on because I'm pretty sure it's really good. Like I said, it's an ensemble piece but we can all watch each other.

I'm just excited for everyone to see the things that these people are doing, like Rebecca Naomi Jones. It's so unreal!

There's a LYSISTRATA JONES movie is in the works! Do you have any inside scoop?

So I hear! I'm excited for Douglas [Carter Beane] and Lewis [Finn]. It still breaks my heart thinking about that show, because once it goes to Broadway that's pretty much it. But I'm so excited for it to live on and have a next life. And that they get to keep doing this and keep playing with it. We're all just really thrilled for them. I hope that it happens soon because I think that it could make a pretty great movie!

What's coming up next for you?

This has all of my attention for now. Right after I got back from the WICKED tour I got this right away, so I took some time to sit around and do nothing! After this I'm just gonna see what happens. I'll maybe go out to LA for a little bit. I have an open mind about whatever is next for me.

Well until then we'll see you at the park!

Yes you will! And I'd like to add that Daniel Breaker is really hot! I told him that I would say that! [Laughs]