Danai Gurira in Richard III Free Shakespeare in the Park production
By Renee Hansen
Danai Gurira is a force to be reconned with no matter what role she portrays. Whether it be the katana-wielding Michonne on The Walking Dead or the General of the Dora Milaje, Okoye, of the MCU, watch out! Next, fans who live in the New York City area will have a chance to see her in a much different role. Gurira will be featured at The Public Theater’s Free Shakespeare in the Park production of Richard III in a role that might be quite a surprise.
Gurira will portray the titular character in this production. Yes, you read that correctly. She will play the role of King Richard III in the play written by William Shakespeare about the rise to power and short reign of this king of England. The last time this production was featured on The Delacorte stage King Richard III was portrayed by Denzel Washington in 1990.
Playbill reported rehearsal schedule changes that altered the preview dates for the production. Performances will begin with a red carpet opening on June 30 and a press opening on July 10, and the show will run until July 17.
Danai Gurira in Richard III
This summer marks the 60th anniversary season for Free Shakespeare in the Park at The Delacorte Theater. Richard III, directed by Robert O’Hara, known for Slave Play, will kick things off and Public Works’ As You Like It begins on August 10.
According to Playbill, additional cast joining Guirira for Richard III includes:
- Wyatt Cirbus as Prince of Wales
- Sanjit De Silva as Buckingham
- Sam Duncan as Duke of York
- Monique Holt as Duchess of York
- Gregg Mozgala as King Edward IV and as Richmond
- Paul Niebanck as George
- Michael Potts as Lord Stanley
- Ariel Shafir as Lord Hastings
- Heather Alicia Simms as Queen Elizabeth
- Ali Stroker as Anne,
- Sharon Washington as Queen Margaret
- Daniel J. Watts as Catesby Ratcliffe
O’Hara had this to say about bringing Ricard III back to The Delacorte after 30 years
"It has been over 30 years since Richard III was produced at The Delacorte, and I’m excited to bring one of drama’s all-time favorite villains back onto the Central Park stage. Richard III speaks to the dangerous machinations that we have witnessed by leaders throughout history, but most acutely in recent years in our own government. While navigating the projections of those around him by his decision to ‘prove the villain,’ Richard is our unreliable narrator, protagonist, and antagonist, drawing us deeper and deeper into his murderous mayhem. I am thrilled to collaborate again with the brilliant, multi-talented Danai Gurira as she returns to The Delacorte in the title role of this infamous usurper King, full of bloody confrontations, political intrigue, and familial toxicity."
The Delacorte Theater is located at 81 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024, a 1,800-seat open-air theater in Central Park.
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