Phylicia Rashad, F. Murray Abraham & More Join Meryl Streep and Kevin Kline in Romeo and Juliet Benefit

Additional casting has been announced for the Public Theater's upcoming one-night-only benefit reading of Romeo and Juliet, starring Meryl Strep and Kevin Kline. Directed by Daniel Sullivan, the June 18 gala celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park. Jeanine Tesori will compose original music for the performance, which also honors Shakespeare in the Park veteran Al Pacino.

In addition to Streep and Kline, Romeo and Juliet will feature F. Murray Abraham (Friar Laurence), Christine Baranski (Nurse), John Cullum (Capulet), David Harbour (Abraham, Capulet Servant, Paris’ Page), Bill Irwin (Montague), Sandra Oh (Lady Montague), Phylicia Rashad (Lady Capulet), Michael Stuhlbarg (Paris) and Sharon Washington (Stage Directions). As previously announced the cast also includes Raúl Esparza (Sampson, Apothecary, Watchman 1), Jesse L. Martin (Gregory, Friar John, Watchman 2), Jerry Stiller (Peter), Christopher Walken (Mercutio), Sam Waterston (Benvolio) and Jeffrey Wright (Tybalt).

The Delacorte Theater in Central Park officially opened on June 18, 1962 with a production of The Merchant of Venice. Directed by Public Theater founder Joe Papp and Gladys Vaughn, the production featured then-unknown actors George C. Scott and James Earl Jones. Over the past 50 years more than five million people have enjoyed more than 150 free productions of Shakespeare and other classical works and musicals at the Delacorte.