Cerveris, Plimpton, Rashad and More Set for Cymbeline at Lincoln Center
Leading players have been announced for Lincoln Center Theater's forthcoming production of William Shakespeare's Cymbeline. The cast of 26 will include Jonathan Cake, Michael Cerveris, John Cullum, Martha Plimpton and Phylicia Rashad, with additional casting to be announced later. The play begins performances on November 1 and opens December 2 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater, directed by Mark Lamos.
Cymbeline combines comedy, tragedy and history into an epic tale of power and magic as two warring powers clash until its eventual joyful conclusion. The characters in this late Romance include a Lear-like monarch Cullum, a wicked queen Rashad, an Iago-like villain Cake, a deceived husband Cerveris and a heroine, the king's daughter Imogen, Shakespeare's last great female role Plimpton.
Cerveris was nominated for a 2007 Tony Award for his leading performance as Kurt Weill in Love/Musik and appeared in the Public Theater's production of King Lear earlier in the season. He won a Tony for his performance in Assassins and was nominated for playing the title roles in Sweeney Todd and The Who's Tommy. He also appeared on Broadway in Titanic and starred off-Broadway in Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
Cullum was nominated for a 2007 Tony Award for his supporting performance in 110 in the Shade and won Tonys for his performances in Shenandoah and On the Twentieth Century. Other Broadway credits include Urinetown, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, Camelot, 1776, Doubles, All My Sons, Hamlet, Man of La Mancha and Show Boat. At Lincoln Center Theater, he appeared in Old Money.
Plimpton received a 2007 Tony Award nomination for Lincoln Center Theater's production of The Coast of Utopia and is currently starring in the Shakespeare in the Park production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Other Broadway credits include Shining City and Sixteen Wounded. Off-Broadway credits include SubUrbia at Lincoln Center Theater, Hurlyburly, The False Servant, Hobson's Choice, Boston Marriage, Pericles, The Haggadah, Runaways and Flesh and Blood.
Rashad won a Tony Award for A Raisin in the Sun and was nominated for a Tony for Gem of the Ocean. Her other Broadway credits include Jelly's Last Jam, Into the Woods, Dreamgirls, The Wiz and Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death. Off Broadway credits include Bernarda Alba at Lincoln Center Theater, Blue, Helen, Everybody's Ruby and The Story.
Cymbeline will be designed by Tony Award winners Michael Yeargan sets, Jess Goldstein costumes and Brian MacDevitt lighting. Original music will be by Mel Marvin and sound design will be by Tony Smolenski IV and Walter Trarbach.
