The Bacchae Begins Performances In Central Park Tonight

The Greek tragedy The Bacchae starts performances at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park this evening. The production, directed by Joanne Akalaitis and featuring music by Philip Glass, is the second and final installment of the Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park summer season. The Bacchae will have a shorter run than the Public's previous production, the star-studded Twelfth Night, playing just under three weeks from August 11-30. The Euripides play stars Jonathan Groff (Spring Awakening) as Dionysus and Anthony Mackie as Pentheus. Tickets to the production are absolutely free and are distributed each day at 1pm at the Delacorte. If you are unable to get out of work to join the line in the morning, there is also a cancellation line in the evening.

Anthony Mackie To Head Cast of The Bacchae

The Public Theater has completed casting for its second and final Shakespeare in the Park production this summer, Euripides' The Bacchae. Anthony Mackie will play Pentheus in the classic Greek tragedy, which will play August 11-30 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. Mackie has been seen on Broadway in productions such as Drowning Crow and the revival of Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, and is currently on screen in the acclaimed independent film The Hurt Locker. Other actors previously announced to star in the production include Jonathan Groff (Spring Awakening, The Singing Forest) as Dionysus, Andre de Shields (The Full Monty, Impressionism) as Teiresias, and George Bartenieff as Cadmus. JoAnne Akalaitis directs this 90-minute version (adapted by Nicholas Ruddall) of The Bacchae, which features an original score by Philip Glass.