Great Performances continues its partnership with The Public Theater’s Free Shakespeare in the Park at The Delacorte Theater with Great Performances: Twelfth Night, premiering Friday, November 14 at 9/8c on PBS (check local listings), on pbs.org/gperf and the PBS App. The Shakespearean comedy of mistaken identity tells the romantic misadventures of twins Sebastian and Viola after they survive a shipwreck, including revenge plots and tricks of love. Recorded this summer at the newly renovated Delacorte Theater in Central Park, the production is directed by Tony Award nominee Saheem Ali. The show follows previous Free Shakespeare in the Park productions broadcast on Great Performances including Hamlet, Richard III, Merry Wives, and Much Ado About Nothing.
“Presenting the works of Shakespeare on Great Performances is a tradition that began over 50 years ago,” said Great Performances executive producer David Horn. “We are pleased to help bring the Public’s diverse and contemporary productions to a national audience also for free.”
Oskar Eustis, The Public Theater’s Artistic Director, shares, “WNET is more than just a partner to the Public Theater; they are an ally in our constant struggle to make sure the culture belongs to everyone. The greatest artistic beauty, the most profound poetry, the most extraordinary actors- they belong to all Americans, regardless of their ability to pay. WNET and the Public know that a shared culture is essential to a healthy democracy.”
The cast also features John Ellison Conlee (Sir Toby Belch), b (Antonio), Khris Davis (Orsino), Ariyan Kassam (Curio), Moses Sumney (Feste), Kapil Talwalkar (Fabian), and Joe Tapper (Sea Captain). The ensemble includes Dario Alvarez, Jania Rose Jallow, Valentino Musumeci, Precious Omigie, Chinna Palmer, Nathan M. Ramsey, Jasmine Sharma, Julian Tushabe, Adrian Villegas, Ada Westfall, and Mia Wurgaft.
For more than 50 years on PBS, Great Performances has provided an unparalleled showcase of the best in all genres of the performing arts, serving as America’s most prestigious and enduring broadcaster of cultural programming. Showcasing a diverse range of artists from around the world, the series has earned 67 Emmy Awards and six Peabody Awards. The Great Performances website hosts exclusive videos, interviews, photos, full episodes and more. The series is produced by The WNET Group. Great Performances is available for streaming concurrent with broadcast on PBS.org and the PBS App, available on iOS, Android, Roku streaming devices, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TV, Chromecast and VIZIO.
