Time to start thinking about the 2017 Shakespeare in the Park season. This summer, Public Theater Artistic Director Oskar Eustis will helm a production of the Bard’s Julius Caesar; following that, Public Works founder Lear deBessonet will direct A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Oskar Eustis directs JULIUS CAESAR, Shakespeare’s play of politics and power, last seen in the Park 17 years ago. Rome’s leader, Julius Caesar, is a force unlike any the city has seen. Magnetic, populist, irreverent, he seems bent on absolute power. A small band of patriots, devoted to the country’s democratic traditions, must decide how to oppose him. Shakespeare’s political masterpiece has never felt more contemporary.  JULIUS CAESAR, only staged at the Delacorte Theater once before in 2000, was directed by Barry Edelstein and featured David McCallum in the title role, Jeffrey Wright as Mark Antony, and Jamey Sheridan as Brutus.

In July, the Delacorte Theater will transform into the most enchanted forest in all of theater in Shakespeare’s beloved comedy, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM. When the merry sprite Puck meddles with a magical love potion, young lovers lost in the woods mysteriously find themselves infatuated with the wrong person in this hilarious, fairytale fantasia that proves the course of true love never did run smooth. Lear deBessonet, Founder of The Public Theater’s groundbreaking Public Works program and Resident Director, brings her electric theatrical vision to the classic romance about the supernatural nature of love.

“There is no difficulty in the world that Shakespeare can’t address,” Eustis said in a statement. “In our troubled times, the majesty of Julius Caesar and the joy of A Midsummer Night’s Dream are as necessary as beauty.”The summer season will also include Hair to Hamilton, an all-star celebration of musicals developed at the Public. The gala event will take place on June 5 at the Delacorte.