Richard III at The Public Theater

One of Shakespeare’s most charismatic villains cuts a scorched-earth swath through the politicos, power-mongers, and even his own 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.

Shakespeare’s bracingly theatrical, surprisingly moral exploration of violence and its consequences is a production of The Public Theater’s Mobile Shakespeare Unit. This reinvention of Joseph Papp’s Mobile Shakespeare program—the original impulse of the New York Shakespeare Festival that would grow over decades into Shakespeare in the Park and The Public Theater—takes professional Shakespeare for free to prisons, homeless shelters, centers for the elderly, and other community venues throughout the five boroughs from July 17-August 5 before playing at The Public for this very limited run.

The Mobile Shakespeare Unit is made possible with the generous support of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. Additional generous support is provided by Bloomberg.