Shuler Hensley Joins Shakespeare in the Park's Twelfth Night

The Public Theater has announced that Shuler Hensley will join the cast of the upcoming free Shakespeare in the Park production of Twelfth Night, running July 17-August 19, with opening night set for Tuesday, July 31. Hensley will play Sir Toby Belch, replacing the previously announced Jacob Ming-Trent, who has pulled out because of a scheduling conflict.

This Twelfth Night is a new mounting of Kwame Kwei-Armah and Shaina Taub's musical adaptation of Shakespeare's comedy, which was first presented in 2016 as part of the Public Theater's special Public Works series. It is directed by Oskar Eustis and Kwei-Armah, and features music and lyrics by Taub, and choreography by Lorin Latarro.

The rest of the cast includes Ato Blankson-Wood (Orsino), Lori Brown-Niang (Maria), Troy Anthony (Sebastian), Nanya-Akuki Goodrich (Olivia), J.W. Guido (Featured Illyrian), Daniel Hall (Sir Andrew Aguecheek), Nikki M. James (Viola), Jonathan Jordan (Antonio), Andrew Kober (Malvolio), Patrick J. O'Hare (Fabian), and Shaina Taub (Feste). Kim Blanck is the female understudy, and Javier Ignacio is the male understudy. The equity company will be joined by two rotating ensembles of community members from all five New York City boroughs who will perform together on the Delacorte stage.

Twelfth Night also features scenic design by Rachel Hauck, costume design by Andrea Hood, lighting design by John Torres, sound design by Jessica Paz, hair and wig design by Cookie Jordan, fight direction by Lisa Kopitsky, orchestrations by Mike Brun, and music direction by Taub.