Program from the Production
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STC Board of Trustees Board of Trustees Stephen A. Hopkins Emeritus Trustees Michael R. Klein, Chair Lawrence A. Hough R. Robert Linowes*, Robert E. Falb, Vice Chair W. Mike House Founding Chairman John Hill, Treasurer Jerry J. Jasinowski James B. Adler Pauline Schneider, Secretary Norman D. Jemal Heidi L. Berry* Michael Kahn, Artistic Director Scott Kaufmann David A. Brody* Kevin Kolevar Melvin S. Cohen* Trustees Abbe D. Lowell Ralph P. Davidson Nicholas W. Allard Bernard F. McKay James F. Fitzpatrick Ashley M. Allen Eleanor Merrill Dr. Sidney Harman* Stephen E. Allis Melissa A. Moss Lady Manning Anita M. Antenucci Robert S. Osborne Kathleen Matthews Jeffrey D. Bauman Stephen M. Ryan William F. McSweeny Afsaneh Beschloss K. Stuart Shea V. Sue Molina William C. Bodie George P. Stamas Walter Pincus Landon Butler Lady Westmacott Eden Rafshoon Dr. Paul Carter Rob Wilder Emily Malino Scheuer* Chelsea Clinton Suzanne S. Youngkin Lady Sheinwald Dr. Mark Epstein Mrs. Louis Sullivan Andrew C. Florance Ex-Officio Daniel W. Toohey Dr. Natwar Gandhi Chris Jennings, Sarah Valente Miles Gilburne Managing Director Lady Wright Barbara Harman John R. Hauge * Deceased 3 Dear Friend, Table of Contents I am often asked to choose my favorite Shakespeare play, and Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2 Title Page 5 it is very easy for me to answer immediately Henry IV, Parts 1 The Play of History and 2. In my opinion, there is by Drew Lichtenberg 6 no other play in the English Synopsis: Henry IV, Part 1 9 language which so completely captures the complexity and Synopsis: Henry IV, Part 2 10 diversity of an entire world. Although they are in About the Playwright 11 two parts, performed over two nights, it is one, long play, with recurring characters and themes. It shows Henry IV, Part 1 Cast 14 us fathers and sons and husbands and wives, it Henry IV, Part 2 Cast 15 dramatizes war and its human costs, it shows us the terrible burdens of leadership and the fragility of a Cast Biographies 17 commonwealth wracked by regional and political differences. It shows us sickness and suffering, Direction and laughter and gaiety, life and death. This play for me is Design Biographies 22 simply universal in every way. Support 25 At this stage in my career, I am aware that I do my For STC 38 best work when I am surrounded by artists of the highest caliber. Few things make me prouder than STC Staff 42 welcoming back STC Affiliated Artist Stacy Keach to Audience Services 43 play Falstaff. I have known Stacy for a very long time, and I am thrilled and grateful that he has chosen to spend six months working with us. Joining him is a truly outstanding veteran cast filled with many longtime friends, as well as some new young faces. I have dreamed for a very long time that this theatre Creative Conversations must do both parts of Henry IV, and I am profoundly grateful to Clarice Smith for making this ambitious HENRY IV, Part 1 and Part 2 repertory production possible. In the remainder of our 2013–14 Season we will be Page and Stage FREE hosting two productions inspired by Noël Coward, Sunday, April 6, 5-6 p.m. one of the wittiest and most romantic of 20th- century playwrights. As part of our STC Presentation Bookends FREE Series, Kneehigh Theatre’s Brief Encounter will be Wednesday, April 9 and 16, at the Lansburgh from March 29 through April 13. Pre-show 5:30 p.m. and post-show The production stars Hannah Yelland, Hermione in Post-Performance last season’s The Winter’s Tale, who was nominated Cast Discussion FREE for a Tony Award for her performance in this Wednesday, May 7 and internationally acclaimed production. May 29 to July 21, post-show 13, Maria Aitken closes our subscription season with Coward’s fast-talking and manners-breaking comedy, FREE Classics in Context Private Lives. As always, we hope to share these Saturday, May 10, 5-6 p.m. stories with you in our theatres, and I look forward to AsidesLIVE: Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2 seeing you there. Sunday, April 27, 2014, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Warm regards, Tickets: $20 regular, $15 ticket holders/ subscribers, $7 student tickets. jJoin the director, actors and special guests in this morning of conversations Michael Kahn about the plays. Artistic Director Shakespeare Theatre Company ShakespeareTheatre.org/Education Cover photo by Scott Suchman. 4 200 MASTERWORKS 120 ARTISTS 1 AMERICAN SPIRIT AMERICA N MASTERS MADE IN FROM THE PHILLIP S COLLECTION 1850–1970 THE USA Through August 31, 2014 1600 21st Street, NW The exhibition is organized by The Phillips Collection. (Dupont Circle, Q Street exit) THURSDAY NIGHTS The exhibition is presented by OPEN UNTIL 8:30 PM Generous support is provided by www.phillipscollection.org MEMBERS ENJOY UNLIMITED The Mr. and Mrs. Raymond J. Horowitz FREE ADMISSION AND Foundation for the Arts. DISCOUNTS. JOIN US! Brought to you by the Made in the USA Committee 5 ARTHUR G. DOVE, RED SUN (DETAIL), 1935. OIL ON CANVAS, 20 1/4 X 28 IN. THE PHILLIPS COLLECTION, WASHINGTON, DC, ACQUIRED 1935 © THE ESTATE OF ARTHUR G. DOVE, COURTESY TERRY DINTENFASS, INC. shakespeare theater ad February 2014.indd 1 2/18/2014 4:53:55 PM Recipient of the 2012 Regional Theatre Tony Award® Artistic Director Michael Kahn Managing Director Chris Jennings William Shakespeare’s Performances Begin March 25, 2014 Performances Begin April 1, 2014 Opening Night April 15, 2014 Opening Night April 18, 2014 Sidney Harman Hall Sidney Harman Hall Director Resident Casting Director Michael Kahn Daniel Neville-Rehbehn Associate Director Fight Directors Alan Paul Rick Sordelet Christian Kelly-Sordelet Set Designer Alexander Dodge Voice and Text Coach Ellen O’Brien Costume Designer Ann Hould-Ward Literary Associate Drew Lichtenberg Lighting Designer Stephen Strawbridge Assistant Director 200 MASTERWORKS 120 ARTISTS 1 AMERICAN SPIRIT Gus Heagerty Composer/Music Director/ Sound Score Assistant to the Director Nathanael Johnson AMERICA N Michael Roth MASTERS Production Stage Manager Wig Designer FROM Joseph Smelser* MADE IN Paul Huntley THE PHILLIP S Assistant Stage Managers New York Casting COLLECTION Hannah R. O’Neil* Stuart Howard and Paul Hardt 1850–1970 Robyn M. Zalewski* THE USA Through August 31, 2014 The Clarice Smith Repertory Series is sponsored by the Robert H. Smith Family Foundation. Additional support for the Henry IV Repertory provided by the 1600 21st Street, NW The exhibition is organized by The Phillips Collection. (Dupont Circle, Q Street exit) National Endowment for the Arts. THURSDAY NIGHTS The exhibition is presented by Henry IV, Part 1 Restaurant Partner: Carmine’s OPEN UNTIL 8:30 PM Generous support is provided by Henry IV, Part 2 Restaurant Partner: Social Reform www.phillipscollection.org MEMBERS ENJOY UNLIMITED The Mr. and Mrs. Raymond J. Horowitz FREE ADMISSION AND Foundation for the Arts. DISCOUNTS. JOIN US! Brought to you by the Made in the USA Committee *Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers. ARTHUR G. DOVE, RED SUN (DETAIL), 1935. OIL ON CANVAS, 20 1/4 X 28 IN. THE PHILLIPS COLLECTION, WASHINGTON, DC, ACQUIRED 1935 © THE ESTATE OF ARTHUR G. DOVE, COURTESY TERRY DINTENFASS, INC. shakespeare theater ad February 2014.indd 1 2/18/2014 4:53:55 PM The Play of History What is the history play? It ends with neither halfway through, just as Hotspur’s spirited deaths nor weddings, yet contains both arguments with his wife parallel Prince tragedy and comedy. It devotes itself to the Hal’s jesting games of wit with Falstaff. regional and political differences of millions Heterosexual tensions in the one world vie of people, while functioning as a family with homosocial bonds in the other; games drama of unusual intimacy. The history play of criminal mischief in one echo deadly war shows us great kings and mighty warriors, games in the other. but it also makes room for the common man Another way of understanding the play’s and allows the silent woman to have her say. architecture is by looking at character. The How does one sum up a genre that appears court, the tavern and the battlefield are to follow so few set rules and regulations? ruled by King Henry, Falstaff and Hotspur, How does one define the warp and woof of respectively. The only figure linking together what looks like pure inspiration? these three worlds is Prince Hal, and the play * * * is concerned principally with his personal and political education. Strikingly, Shakespeare Almost as soon as it appeared, Henry IV, does not pressure us to side with any one Part 1 was a popular sensation. It was of Hal’s would-be mentors. He presents the the best-selling of Shakespeare’s plays, King’s criticisms of Hal’s wastrel conduct just going through nine editions between 1598 as seriously as he does Falstaff’s endorsement and 1639. (Part 2 was only printed once, of a self-interested and liberal lifestyle, as in 1600.) It played regularly in theatres well as Hotspur’s valiant self-conduct. throughout the seventeenth century. During the Interregnum, when all theatre Shakespeare also, with brilliant irony, shows was prohibited, the Falstaff scenes were us the terrible burdens of the King’s mortal performed as a “droll” – at taverns and fairs, sin, the self-serving logic of Falstaff and on an impromptu scaffold – under the title Hotspur’s self-destructive qualities. Along The Bouncing Knight. with Hal, we in the audience have to reflect on and choose the wisest course of action. Structurally, the play has a restless, triangular Shakespeare’s genius makes clear that momentum.