Public Theater’s Richard III Will Stream Through PBS May 19
As part of its annual “Broadway’s Best” programming, the exciting "Richard III", filmed live at New York's Delacorte Theater will premiere later this year on PBS. Starring Danai Gurira (“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” “The Walking Dead”) in the title role with Tony Award winner Ali Stroker (“Oklahoma!”) as Anne, Robert O’Hara (Broadway’s “Slave Play”) directs this Shakespearean tragedy spotlighting one of The Bard’s most indelible villains. The 2022 production, produced for The Public Theater’s Free Shakespeare in the Park season, will premiere Friday, May 19 at 9PM ET on PBS (check local listings), and stream free through the PBS Great Performance website on the same date. The program will be available for free streaming for at least 30 minutes, after which it will be available through PBS Passport. Guided by his lust for power and the throne, Richard III uses his words and dark charm to conceal his dismantling of government and justice by manipulating, kidnapping, and killing all who stand between him and the throne. The energetic production features the use of American Sign Language, a revolving set, and dance sequences. Recorded live in July 2022 from Central Park’s outdoor Delacorte Theater, the cast also includes Maleni Chaitoo (Ensemble), Wyatt Cirbus (Prince of Wales), Thomas DellaMonica (Understudy Ensemble), Sanjit De Silva (Buckingham), Sam Duncan (Duke of York), Thaddeus S. Fitzpatrick (Ensemble), Skyler Gallun (Ensemble), Sarah Nina Hayon (Ensemble), Monique Holt (Duchess of York), Matthew August Jeffers (Ensemble), Matt Monaco (Ensemble), Gregg Mozgala (King Edward IV/Richmond (King Henry VII)), Joe Mucciolo (Ensemble), Paul Niebanck (George), Xavier Pacheco (Ensemble), Marcus Raye Pérez (Ensemble), Grace Porter (Ensemble), Michael Potts (Lord Stanley), Ariel Shafir (Lord Hastings), Heather Alicia Simms (Queen Elizabeth), N’yomi Stewart (Ensemble), Sharon Washington (Queen Margaret) and Daniel J. Watts (Catesby Ratcliffe). In his Variety review, Daniel D'Addario said: "O’Hara and his ensemble do an excellent job of making the audience feel complicit as we lean forward, waiting for Richard to choose the next pawn he’ll take off the board, and waiting, too, for him to acknowledge us once more. This Richard needs obeisance from everyone, including those of us out there in the stands; his subjects grant it by following orders, and we grant it by tracking the details of his story, and by laughing, despite ourselves, as he works through his kill list."