Meryl Streep, Phylicia Rashad, Christine Baranski & Many More Set for The Public Theater's 2016 Gala

The Public Theater announced today that The Public Theater's Annual Gala, THE UNITED STATES OF SHAKESPEARE, will take place on Monday, June 6 at the Delacorte Theater. Directed by Jeremy McCarter, the always highly-anticipated gala will include 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. Andi Bernstein and Ashley Leeds will serve as Gala Co-Chairs for this one-night-only special event that will honor Bank of America for 10 years of leadership and support of free Shakespeare in the Park.

THE UNITED STATES OF SHAKESPEARE will include F. Murray Abraham, Sarah Amengual, Lemon Andersen, Christine Baranski, Kate Burton, Michael Cerveris, Michael Friedman, Bill Irwin, Lisa Kron, Hamish Linklater, Suzan-Lori Parks, Steven Pasquale, Martha Plimpton, Lily Rabe, Phylicia Rashad, Jay O. Sanders, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Jimmy Smits, Meryl Streep, Jeanine Tesori, and John Douglas Thompson; and The Public's Shakespeare Scholar in Residence Jim Shapiro, with musical direction by Chris Fenwick. More casting to be announced at a later date.

The summertime gala will begin with cocktails and dinner alfresco at 6:00 p.m. in Central Park, followed by a one-act performance of THE UNITED STATES OF SHAKESPEARE at 8:00 p.m. and culminate with an after-party hosted by The Public Theater Young Partners under the stars. (The gala rain date is Tuesday, June 7). Wine for the event is generously provided by iconic Italian wine brand, Ruffino.

Tickets to The Public Theater's Annual Gala start at $650 and are available for purchase by calling (212) 539-8634, online at www.publictheater.org/gala2016 or via email at gala@publictheater.org. Proceeds from the gala will help support The Public's mission of providing a home for artists who give voice to the pressing issues of our time, provide affordable access to thousands of New Yorkers with free Shakespeare in the Park and other groundbreaking works, and strengthen the vital relationship between our artists and audiences.

Photos by Walter McBride