William Shakespeare's the hottest New York theater playwright.
Born 460 years ago, the English theater titan will reach 21st century Manhattan audiences with Broadway revivals of "Romeo and Juliet" and "Othello" and a new production of "King Lear."
Opening this month, "Romeo and Juliet" at the Circle in the Square Theater stars Kit Connor, best known for his performance in Netflix's "Heartstopper," and Rachel Zigler, who received raves for her portrayal of the Juliet-like Maria in Steven Spielberg's movie version of "Westside Story." Connor and Zigler will make their Broadway debuts in Shakespeare's tragedy of two doomed teenage lovers unable to escape the snares of their rival families.
The production will be directed by Sam Gold, lauded for his recent production of Ibsen's "An Enemy of the People." Jack Antonoff composed music for the revival.
Film and stage heavyweight Denzel Washington and Hollywood star Jake Gyllenhaall star in "Othello," which opens in February at the Barrymore Theater. English stage and film actress Molly Osborne plays the tragic Desdemona to Washington's doomed Moorish general Othello, and Gyllenhaall's duplicitous villain Iago.
Lauded Shakepeare actor and director Kenneth Branagh stars and directs a production of Shakespeare's "King Lear" from Oct. 26-Dec. 15 at the Griffin Theater at the Shed, located in New York's Hudson Yards development.
Along with Shakespeare, classic American theater will also return to Broadway with productions of Thornton Wilder's "Our Town," Stephen Sondheim's "Gypsy" and David Mamet's "Glengarry Glen Ross."
Directed by Atlanta's Kenny Leon, who also will helm "Othello," Wilder's nostalgic classic about residents of a small New England town returns to Broadway for the first time in 2o years.
Starring Jim Parsons, Katie Holmes, Zoey Deutch, Ephraim Sykes, Billy Eugene Jones and Richard Thomas, the production begins this month at the Barrymore Theater.
Six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald takes charge of the famous role of Momma Rose in Sondheim's beloved "Gypsy," beginning in November at the reopened Majestic Theater.
In a stirring contrast to Shakespeare, Wilder and Sondheim, Mamet's "Glengarry Glen Ross" returns to Broadway next spring in a revival starring Kieran Culkin, Bob Odenkirk and Bill Burr.
With a dazzling array of Hollywood stars bringing fresh energy to the classics, Shakespeare, Wilder, Sondheim and Mamet will light up Manhattan stages for longtime fans and a new generation.