Steve Guttenberg, known for his roles in "Police Academy," "Cocoon" and "Three Men and a Baby," as well as the recent Broadway one-act play by Woody Allen, Honeymoon Hotel, will be guest starring in Hudson Warehouse's production of HENRY 4.1. Mr. Guttenberg will make his Shakespearean debut as Earl of Northumberland in The Warehouse's June production at The Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, in the heart of Riverside Park.
Hudson Warehouse, known as "The Other Free Shakespeare in the Park," continues its twelfth season with HENRY 4.1 by William Shakespeare, adapted by Joseph Hamel. Nicholas Martin-Smith directs the first show of the company's 2015 summer season which includes She Stoops to Conquer in July and Titus Andronicus in August. Performances for Henry 4.1 are Thursdays-Sundays at 6:30pm, June 4th through June 28th, and admission is FREE.
Tickets: There are no tickets to purchase in advance; just show up and take a seat on the steps of the monument. Shows begin promptly at 6:30pm. We advise you to arrive by 6pm. Performances are free.
Synopsis: The world is thrown into chaos with the execution of King Richard II. The destruction brought on by King Henry IV usurping the crown from Edmond Mortimer leaves the world in the throes of a post-apocalyptic nightmare as different tribes struggle to build alliances in a world where medicine, the internet and a good lithium battery define power and civilization. And King Henry's son, Prince Hal, is nowhere to be found. His time is "better spent" with Sir John Falstaff and the misfits of the Boar's Head Tavern
Costumes are designed by Artist in Residence Emily Rose Parman and the Fight Choreography is directed by Artist in Residence Jared Kirby, just off of Austin Pendleton's Hamlet with Peter Sarsgaard at the Classic Stage Company. The Producer of Henry 4.1 is Assistant Artistic Director Susane Lee.
The stellar cast includes Steve Guttenberg as Henry Percy, the Earl of Northumberland, Paul Singleton as King Henry IV, George K. Wells as Prince Hal, Roger Stude as Sir John Falstaff, Vince Phillip as Thomas Percy the Earl of Worcester, and Julie Baber as Harry 'Hotspur' Percy.
The cast also features Olev Aleksander, Yair Ben-Dor, Suzanne DuCharme, Sonja Gabrielsen, Linus Gelber, Sven Haabeth, Jack McKeane, Tony Mita, Sara Parcesepe, Emily Parman, Adam Sheaffer, Marcus Watson.
In discussing his take on the post-apocalyptic world of Henry 4.1, director Mr. Martin-Smith explains, "Not only is Henry Bollingbroke responsible for the execution of King Richard II, he took the crown meant for Mortimer, who was the rightful heir to the throne. So these crimes that Henry committed created a ripple effect in the universe that tainted everything. The universe was thrown off-kilter and plunged civilization into a wasteland."
Hudson Warehouse was recognized as "The Best Outdoor Theater" in NYC by "L" Magazine in 2009. They wrote: "Sure, Central Park had Anne Hathaway's star power, but something about Hudson Warehouse's Other Free Shakespeare in the Park summer-long series in Riverside Park won us over. Maybe it's the lack of a queue, or the arduous three plays in three months schedule (August is A Midsummer Night's Dream), but it's probably a combination of the excellent hardworking cast and the sunsets over the Hudson that serve as their backdrop that makes these outdoor productions a must."
The Warehouse also won "The Good Neighbor Award" for their contribution to the quality of life of the Upper West Side, given by The Goddard Riverside Community Center in 2013. This was for: "In Recognition of your Extraordinary Deeds in Helping Build a Better Community." Goddard Riverside is a modern day settlement house on the Upper West side with programs for children, youth, teens, families, seniors, people with substance abuse, and homeless individuals. Hudson Warehouse became the Resident Theater Company at the Bernie Wohl Center at Goddard Riverside in 2013.
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