Annette Bening cast in ‘King Lear’ in New York’s Central Park

Having recently completed one stage production in Los Angeles, Annette Bening has already set her next theatrical outing: a role in Shakespeare’s “King Lear” that New York’s Public Theater will produce this summer in Central Park.

Bening will play the role of Goneril, one of Lear’s three daughters, in the Shakespearean tragedy. The production, directed by Daniel Sullivan, will star John Lithgow in the title role. The outdoor staging at the Delacorte Theatre is scheduled to run July 22 to Aug. 17

“King Lear” will also feature actresses Jessica Hecht as Regan and Jessica Collins as Cordelia.

Bening just concluded her solo show “Ruth Draper’s Monologues” that ran at the Geffen Playhouse in L.A. She has appeared in a number of L.A. stage productions over the years, including “Hedda Gabler” and “The Female of the Species” at the Geffen, and “The Cherry Orchard” at the Mark Taper Forum.

The four-time Oscar-nominated actress also starred in a 2009 production of “Medea” at UCLA.

Bening last appeared in a New York stage production of the play “Coastal Disturbances,” which had a Broadway run in 1988. The actress received a Tony Award nomination for her performance in the play.

This summer’s Shakespeare in the Park lineup also includes “Much Ado About Nothing,” featuring Hamish Linklater and Lily Rabe. The comedy, directed by Jack O’Brien, is set to run June 3 to July 6 at the Delacorte.

On Wednesday, Bening’s new movie “The Search” is set to debut in competition at the Cannes Film Festival. The movie, directed by Michel Hazanavicius and also starring Berenice Bejo, is set in war-torn Chechnya.