Gilliam, Waterston Lead Commonwealth Shakespeare Co's OTHELLO, Opens 7/28

Commonwealth Shakespeare Company (CSC) is pleased to announce thecasting for the company's 15 th annual free Shakespeare on The Common production, WilliamShakespeare's immortal drama, Othello, directed by CSC Founding Artistic Director Steven Maler. Othello will be performed at the Parkman Bandstand on Boston Common from July 28 to August 15.

The cast includes Seth Gilliam as Othello and James Waterston as Iago, as well as a list of local favorites including Marianna Bassham, Adrianne Krstansky, Dan Roach, andFrEd Sullivan, Jr.Othello, known as one of Shakespeare's greatest tragedies, is a captivating story about the fall ofa charismatic Moorish general through the betrayal of one of his most trusted soldiers. Setagainst a backdrop of war, Othello is a powerful story about love and jealousy that focuses onthe passions and personal lives of its major figures.

Othello, with its intimate domestic setting, iswidely regarded as the most moving of Shakespeare's great tragedies.Othello will be performed July 28 - August 15 Tuesday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sundayat 7 p.m., weather permitting. Performances take place outdoors at the Parkman Bandstand onBoston Common and are presented in partnership with the City of Boston and Mayor Menino.CSC productions have become a beloved civic institution and are expected to draw an estimated100,000 people over 18 performances.

All performances are free and open to the public of allages.THE CASTSeth Gilliam (Othello) is best known for his portrayal of Sgt. Ellis Carver on HBO's "The Wire"and as Clayton Hughes on HBO's "Oz." His theater credits include Richard III (Prince Edward,New York Shakespeare Festival); Saint Stanislaus Outside the House (MCC Theater); JeanGenet's The Maids (Madame, Classic Stage Company NYC); Iphigenia and Other Daughters(Orestes, Classic Stage Company NYC); Hey Little Walter (Playwrights Horizons); Man at hisBest (Playwrights Horizons); Dogeaters (LaJolla Playhouse); Topdog/Underdog (Lincoln,Philadelphia Theatre Company); A Soldier's Play (Soldier, Ojai Music Festival); Suzan-Lori Parks'Father Comes Home from the Wars (Homer, The Public Theatre); and Margaret Edson's Wit (Dr.Posner, Union Square Theatre). Other TV credits include "Assault at West Point" (Showtime),"The Cosby Show" (NBC), "Law and Order" & "Law and Order: Criminal Intent" (NBC), "CSI:-Continued-Miami" (CBS), "Nurse Jackie" (Showtime), "As the World Turns" (CBS), and "Mercy" (NBC).

Filmcredits include "Did You Hear about the Morgans?," "Starship Troopers," Courage Under Fire,""The Great New Wonderful," "Tar," "Mr. Wonderful," "Personal Velocity," and "On Board."James Waterston (Iago) has starred in many productions in New York, including The Importanceof Being Earnest (Jack, Brooklyn Academy Of Music); As You Like It (Orlando, New YorkShakespeare Festival); A.R. Gurney's Buffalo Gal (Primary Stages); and Brooke Berman's APerfect Couple (WET). Regional favorites include Mark Antony in Julius Caesar (A.R.T.); Randyin Children (Williamstown); Richard in Ah, Wilderness! (Huntington Theatre Company), and SirAndrew in Twelfth Night. He has also performed in three seasons at Old Globe, three seasonsplaying piano for Greylock Project at Williamstown Theatre Festival and three seasons at TheSundance Institute June Lab. Film/TV credits include: "The Good Wife" (CBS), "Six Feet Under"(HBO, recurring), "Live from Baghdad " (HBO), "The Electric Company," "ER," Dead PoetsSociety, "Christy" (Hallmark), and Little Sweetheart.