For immediate release

Contact: Jennifer Tober, Artistic Director jtober@pittsburghshakespeare.org

412.404.8531

917.628.5020 cell

 

Yvonne Hudson

New Place Collaborations

new.place.collaborations.@gmail.com

412.512.0589

 

 

PITTSBURGH SHAKESPEARE OFFERS HENRY V in city parks in September 2017

 

 

Now in its 13th season, PITTSBURGH SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARKS will offer the stirring, magnificent history play HENRY V, directed by local favorite, professional storyteller and longtime PSIP member ALAN IRVINE each weekend in September 2017.

 

“We’ve managed to shirk the History plays for 13 years, and we’re due for one!…Alan (Irvine) had been clamoring to direct HENRY V for a while, and we decided that this year in particular, politically speaking, would be an apropos time to offer a Shakespeare piece that deals with political intrigue and the making of a great ruler, and nations vying to dominate one another, all the while showing a glimpse into the deeply personal motivations and aspirations of rulers and the pressures they face,” says PSIP Artistic Director Jennifer Tober.

 

Following on the heels of the hugely successful COMEDY OF ERRORS last year, HENRY will expose PSIP audiences to the story of the growth of “Prince HAL”  and his struggle to leave behind his boyhood impetuousness and rise to the occasion of leading England in victory over France in the famed Battle of Agincourt.

 

Director Alan Irvine’s production will use 8 actors, with all except the title role doubling, tripling, and in some cases, quadrupling, and in keeping with the PSIP vein, blur the line between action and audience as the audience becomes a character in itself, playing the roles of the court - the nobles, ladies, servants; becoming the English and French armies; helping fire up HENRY and his soldiers on in the famed St. Crispin’s speech.

 

Longtime PSIP collaborator LISA LEIBERING will serve as Production and Costume designer (Comedy of Errors, Supernatural Shakespeare, King Lear, As You Like It, Romeo & Juliet) 

 

The cast includes Lamar Cheston,  a New York City native who has appeared Off-Broadway in Angels Over Tuskegee, with Pittsburgh Playwrights (Hercules Didn’t Wade in the Water) and Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre (Oedipus Rex) as HENRY; Stoney Richards (Pistol and Exeter), known for being a radio personality at  CBS (WDSY-FM and KDKA) and appearing in many films and tv shows as well as Off-Broadway and locally in Pittsburgh; local favorites Tonya R. Lynn as the bawdy and big-hearted Mistress Quickly and Nick Benninger as Gower and French Maid Alice.

 

Rounding out the cast are Amy Dick, Ryan Bergman, Bob Colbert, Sarah Carleton; as well as a company of young local actors playing the “Soldiers Company.”   

 

As always, audience is encouraged to bring folding chairs or blankets and a picnic.  All ages.  All shows are FREE with donations encouraged.

 

The schedule is as follows:

 

Saturdays and Sundays though September - all shows at 2 PM

 

Sept. 2 and 3 - Frick Park, Blue Slide playground, Beechwood Blvd. and Nicholson St, Squirrel Hill

 

Sept. 9 and 10 - Highland Park, across from the Super Playground, Reservoir Drive

 

Sept. 16 and 17 - Arsenal Park, 40th Street between Penn and Butler Streets

 

Sept. 23 and 24 - Frick Park, Blue Slide playground, Beechwood Blvd. and Nicholson St, Squirrel Hill

 

 

PSIP will celebrate the run of HENRY V with its first fundraising dinner party at MAD MEX Shadyside (220 S. Highland Ave) on Tuesday, September 26th with all proceeds going to support PSIP’s mission of free Shakespeare for all Pittsburghers.

 

Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks was founded in 2005 by Artistic Director Jennifer Tober and has offered FREE Shakespeare productions to thousands of Pittsbughers since its inception.

 

Website: pittsburghshakespeare.org

Facebook: Pittsburgh Shakespeare  in the Parks

Twitter:PghShakespeare

 

Below: Lamar K. Cheston will play HENRY V

 

 

Bringing you free Shakespeare since 2005.

Bring a blanket, a loved one, and a thermos.

http://www.pittsburghshakespeare.com/

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