Shakespeare In The Park Announces 2017 Program

CENTRAL PARK, NY — Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears. This year's Shakespeare In The Park will feature Julius Caesar and A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Julius Caesar will be directed by Oskar Eustis and will run from May 23 through June 18. The contemporary rendition of Shakespeare's political masterpiece will star House of Cards cast members Corey Stoll and Elizabeth Marvel, as well as Tony winner Nikki James and Pulitzer winner Stephen Adly Guirgis.

"I thought to myself, in this particular summer of 2017, the idea of a small group of people — principled, idealistic people — who are worried that their democracy is going to be destroyed by a charismatic, demagogic leader who is threatening to become a dictator — I don't know, I just thought that might have a certain resonance," said Eustis in a promotional video.

Lear deBessonet will be directing A Midsummer Night's Dream, which will run from July 11 through Aug. 13.

"I'm very interested in the full cycle of humanity," she said.

"One of the things that has characterized public work shows is, I think, in addition to a sense of anarchic pleasure, is a sense of wanting to feel like the people that you are seeing on stage, both in terms of age and other demographics, are actually reflecting the city we live in. So, that's something that I want to be true of this Midsummer, as well," said deBessonet in the same video.

Since 1954, Shakespeare In The Park has offered free access. Those wishing to attend need only line up outside The Delacorte Theater in Central Park, where the plays are performed.

Scroll down for a discussion between this year's directors.

Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images