The Public Theater Begins Previews 8/6 for RICHARD III

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Patrick Willingham) will begin previews on Monday, August 6 for The Mobile Shakespeare Unit's RICHARD III, directed by Amanda Dehnert. Following a three-week tour, bringing free Shakespeare to audiences who have limited or no access to the arts, RICHARD III will run at The Public Theater through Saturday, August 25, with an official press opening on Saturday, August 11. Tickets are $15 and on sale now.

The cast features Michelle Beck (Anne), Suzanne Bertish (Margaret), Keith Eric Chappelle (Hastings), Michael Crane (Buckingham), Lynn Hawley (Queen Elizabeth), Alex Hernandez (Richmond/Rivers), Miriam A. Hyman (Clarence), Ron Cephas Jones (Richard III), and Kevin Kelly (Edward/Catesby).

RICHARD III features scenic and costume design by Linda Roethke with original music by Amanda Dehnert.

RICHARD III tells the story of one of Shakespeare's most charismatic villains who cuts a scorched-earth swath through the politicos, power-mongers, and even family members who stand between him and the crown. But before King Richard III can enjoy the fruits of his ill-gotten gain, something stirs that freezes him in his tracks: conscience.

Now in its second year, The Mobile Shakespeare Unit is a reinvention of Joseph Papp's Mobile Shakespeare program, which began in 1957 to bring Shakespeare to the masses, evolving into the New York Shakespeare Festival and ultimately becoming The Public Theater. The Mobile Shakespeare Unit presents Shakespeare for free to prisons, homeless shelters, centers for the elderly, and other community venues throughout the five boroughs.

To further the mission and reach of The Mobile Shakespeare Unit, 20 tickets for each performance of the run at The Public Theater will be given to community organizations that could not host a visit from the tour.

This program is made possible with the generous support of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. Additional support is provided by Bloomberg.

Amanda Dehnert (Director). Her recent directing credits include Cabaret (Stratford Shakespeare Festival), Romeo and Juliet (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), and developmental workshops of the new musicals Not Wanted On The Voyage and Unlock'd. She is also a Resident Director with Trinity Repertory Company, directing such productions as My Fair Lady; Annie; West Side Story; Charles Strouse's You Never Know (world premiere); The Mystery of Edwin Drood; Henry IV; A Moon for the Misbegotten; The Skin of Our Teeth; Peter Pan, or the Boy Who Would Not Grow Up; Noises Off; Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?; The New England Sonata (world premiere); Othello; Saint Joan; We Won't Pay! We Won't Pay!; A Christmas Carol, and Cyrano de Bergerac. She has also composed original scores and songs for the theatre work of Kevin Moriarty, Michael Goldfried, Mark Sutch, and Peter Sampieri. Dehnert's upcoming projects and collaborators include Octavio Solis, Adam Gwon, Stew, Heidi Rodewald, Derek McCulloch, and Jim Steinmeyer.

Michelle Beck (Anne) was most recently seen at The Public in Love's Labor's Lost. Her regional theater credits include The Winter's Tale, Cyrano de Bergerac, Hamlet, Tartuffe, Twelfth Night, The Way to Buddha, As You Like It, and The Tempest. Her film credits include Spinning Into Butter.

Suzanne Bertish (Margaret) has been seen at The Public in Measure for Pleasure. Her Broadway credits include Wit, Salome, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, and The Moliere Comedies, for which she was nominated for a Tony Award. She has been seen Off-Broadway in Kin, The Vagina Monologues, The Memory of Water, The Art of Success, and Skirmishes. Her select film and television credits include The Upside of Anger, The 13th Warrior, Hearts on Fire, "Shine on Harvey Moon," "Rome," and "The Secret Diaries of a Call Girl."

Keith Eric Chappelle (Hastings) has been seen at The Public in Love's Labor's Lost. His Broadway credits include Cyrano de Bergerac. He has been seen Off-Broadway in A Cool Dip in the Barren Saharan Crick. His television credits include "The Good Wife," "Person of Interest," and "Law & Order."

Michael Crane (Buckingham) has appeared at The Public in King Lear and Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. He has also been seen Off-Broadway in Doris to Darlene, a Cautionary Valentine. His New York theater credits include The Glass Cage, The Young Left, The Leopard and the Fox, St. Joan of the Stockyards, and Bone Portraits. His television credits include "Kings," "Damages," "Forget My Name," "White Collar," and "Law & Order."

Lynn Hawley (Queen Elizabeth) has been seen at The Public in Venus and Woyzeck. Her Off-Broadway credits include What Once We Felt, Aristocrats, The Truth-Teller, The Illusion, and Owners. Her film and television credits include Hamlet, "Law & Order," and "Law & Order: SVU."

Alex Hernandez (Richmond/Rivers) has appeared regionally in No Such Cold Thing, Wanderlust, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, Dracula, Life of Galileo, and The Lost Colony. His film credits include The Offliners.

MIRIAM A. HYMAN (Clarence) is a recent graduate of the Yale School of Drama. Her select regional theater credits include Going Live, The Dreamer Examines His Pillow, What You Will, Skin of Our Teeth, The Persians, Young Lady From Rwanda, Twelfth Night, Man From Nebraska, The Story, and Resurrection Blues. Her film and television credits include Conviction, The Wire, and "Law & Order."

Ron Cephas Jones (Richard III) has appeared at The Public in Titus Andronicus, Satellites, Richard III, Everybody's Ruby. His New York theater credits include Wildflower; The Overwhelming; Our Lady of 121st St.; Jesus Hopped the A-Train; Two Trains Running. Other regional theater credits include Othello; Thunder Knocking on the Door; and Don't Explain. His film and television credits include He Got Game, Sweet and Lowdown, Half Nelson, Across the Universe, "Law & Order," "NYPD Blue," and "Raisin in the Sun."

Kevin Kelly (Edward/Catesby) has appeared at The Public in The Brother/Sister Plays: Part 1 and 2, Twelfth Night, and Much Ado About Nothing. His New York theater credits include As You Like It, The Broken Jug, The Germans in Paris, The Glass Menagerie, and Hamlet. His television credits include "Law & Order," "Guiding Light," "As The World Turns," "All My Children," and "One Life to Live."