Sondheim to Score; Cerveris and More Join Public's King Lear

The Public Theater's Artistic Director Oskar Eustis and Executive Director Mara Manus announce casting for The Public's new production of Shakespeare's King Lear directed by Tony Award-winning James Lapine. King Lear will have a limited run from Friday, February 9th, 2006 through Sunday, March 18th. The press opening is Wednesday, March 7th. Tickets for the general public will go on sale Sunday, January 7th.

In addition to the previously announced casting of Kevin Kline in the title role, King Lear will feature Brian Avers (Edgar), Larry Bryggman (Gloucester), Kristen Bush (Cordelia), Michael Cerveris (Kent), Philip Goodwin (Fool), Piter Marek (King of France), Laura Odeh (Regan), Daniel Pearce (Cornwall), Michael Rudko (Albany), Logan Marshall-Green (Edmund), Ryan McCarthy (Ensemble), Angela Pierce (Goneril), Tim Stickney (Oswald), and Joaquin Torres (Duke of Burgundy).

King Lear will have scenic design by Heidi Ettinger, costume design by Jess Goldstein, lighting design by David Lander, sound design by Dan Moses Schreier and Philip Peglow, and music by Stephen Sondheim and Michael Starobin.

King Lear will play Tuesday at 7:00pm, Wednesday through Saturday at 8:00pm, and Sunday at 3:00pm, through Sunday, March 18th.

Please also note the following:

· There will be a Wednesday 2:00pm matinee February 28th, March 7th and 14th.

· On Sunday, March 4th, there will be no matinee; there will be a 6:00pm performance that day.

· On Sunday, February 25th, in addition to the matinee, there will be an 8:00 pm performance.

· On Thursday, February 22nd and Thursday, March 8th, the performance will start at 7:00pm.

· There will be a post-show discussion on Tuesday, February 27th and Tuesday, March 13th.

Tickets for King Lear are $60. Tickets will go on sale Sunday, January 7h at The Public Theater box office, 425 Lafayette Street; on-line at www.publictheater.org or by phone at 212-967-7555 (please note new number).

There will be a limited number of $20 Rush Tix available at the box office for every downtown theater performance one hour prior to curtain. There is a 2 ticket limit per person. Cash only.

Box office hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 1:00pm to 7:30pm, and Sunday and Monday from 1:00pm to 6:00pm. For more information, visit www.publictheater.org