Cerveris, Cullum, Plimpton, Rashad to Star in 'Cymbeline'

Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of André Bishop, Artistic Director, and Bernard Gersten, Executive Producer) will present William Shakespeare's Cymbeline.  The production, which will be directed by Mark Lamos, begins performances Thursday, November 1 and opens on Sunday, December 2 in the Vivian Beaumont Theater (150 West 65 Street). 

The cast of 26 will include (as pictured): Jonathan Cake, Michael Cerveris, John Cullum, Martha Plimpton and Phylicia Rashad.

"One of William Shakespeare's most unusual and spectacular plays, this late Romance combines comedy, tragedy and history into an epic tale of power and magic," state press notes, "Its action sweeping across Britain and Italy, as two warring powers clash until its eventual joyful conclusion.  The characters in Cymbeline include a Lear-like monarch (John Cullum), a wicked queen (Phylicia Rashad), an Iago-like villain (Jonathan Cake), a deceived husband (Michael Cerveris), and a heroine, the king's daughter Imogen, Shakespeare's last great female role (Martha Plimpton)."

Cymbeline will be designed by Tony Award winners Michael Yeargan (sets), Jess Goldstein (costumes), and Brian MacDevitt (lighting). Original music will be by Mel Marvin and sound design will be by Tony Smolenski IV and Walter Trarbach.

Mark Lamos returns to Lincoln Center Theater where he directed LCT's productions of Edward Albee's Seascape, Sheridan's The Rivals, A. R. Gurney's Big Bill and Shakespeare's Measure for Measure.  His other Broadway credits include Tony-nominated Our Country's Good, The Deep Blue Sea, and The Gershwins' Fascinating Rhythm.  He has also directed productions for the Metropolitan Opera and City Opera in New York and for Kennedy Center and The Shakespeare Theatre in Washington, DC.

Jonathan Cake makes his Lincoln Center Theatre debut.  He appeared on Broadway Medea opposite Fiona Shaw.  His London theatre experience includes Coriolanus, Baby Doll and Tamburlaine.

Tony Award-winner Michael Cerveris makes his Lincoln Center Theatre debut after Broadway turns in Love/Musik, Sweeney Todd, Assassins, The Who's Tommy and Titanic.

Broadway veteran John Cullum returns to Lincoln Center Theatre after appearing in Old Money.  His other New York credits include 110 in the Shade, On the Twentieth Century (Tony Award), Shenandoah (Tony Award), Urinetown, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, Camelot, 1776, Hamlet, Show Boat, Man of La Mancha and many more.

Martha Plimpton returns to Lincoln Center Theatre after her Tony Award-nominated performance in the three-part play The Coast of Utopia.  Her other on and off-Broadway credits include Shining City, 16 Wounded, suburbia, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Hurly Burly.

Phylicia Rashad, most known for "The Cosby Show," makes her Lincoln Center Theatre return after appearing in Bernarda Alba.  She has appeared on Broadway in Gem of the Ocean and won the Tony Award for A Raisin in the Sun.

Cymbeline will be performed Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8PM with matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2PM and Sunday at 3PM. (There is no Saturday matinee on November 3.)

Tickets ($65-$90) will be available beginning Sunday, September 9, at the Lincoln Center Theater box office, by calling Tele-Charge at 212-239-6200 or on-line by visiting www.lct.org.