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RICHARD II to Launch History Cycle at Shakespeare & Company Today

By: Jul. 05, 2013
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How does a state contend with a barbarous ruler who is perceived to be appointed by God? King Richard II, portrayed by three-time OBIE Award winner Rocco Sisto, has designed the murder of his uncle, wasted public funds, and used the influence of his crown to misrule a nation. When Richard banishes Henry Bolingbroke (played by Tom O'Keefe, The Taster 2010), he unwittingly fashions an enemy who is intent on orchestrating the King's demise.

Richard II begins Shakespeare's second Tetralogy and Shakespeare & Company's first-ever History Cycle, which covers the period of Great Britain's history known as The Wars of the Roses. Richard II is the first in the series of history plays that Shakespeare & Company will produce culminating in the spectacular and bloody conclusion of Henry Vin time for our 40th Season. Designed to present a cohesive look at these rarely produced works, audiences will receive a rare chance to take a unique, episodic journey that will span five seasons.

TICKETS: are $15-$95, and S&Co. offers a wide range of discount options, including discounts for groups, students, senior citizens, military, teachers and our very popular40% Berkshire Resident Discount. To view a complete schedule, receive a brochure, or inquire about discounts, please call the Box Office at (413) 637-3353 or visit www.Shakespeare.org. For customized group visits-which may include artist talkbacks, tours, parties and catered events-contact the Group Sales office at (413) 637-1199, ext. 132. The Tina Packer Playhouse is air-conditioned, hearing aid assisted and wheelchair accessible.

While remaining faithful to Shakespeare's text, this modern staging by long-time Company actor, teacher, and director Timothy Douglas (Oswald in King Lear and Trinculo in The Tempest, 2012; Director for Blue/Orange, 2007), utilizes a soundscape of contemporary sacred music which perfectly underscores the enduring conflict where power and human nature intersect. In essence, Richard II is given a contemporary treatment, drawing connections between modern fundamentalism and Richard's belief that his crown has been bestowed on him by a higher power. Despite the production's more contemporary sensibilities, Douglas' treatment of Richard II will serve to shed light on Shakespeare's text and bring a modern audience into a deeper communion with this Elizabethan pariah.

FROM THE DIRECTOR: "Shakespeare's Richard II illumines the tragic consequences of an ideological breakdown. Prevailing analyses of the play aim at the doctrine of the King's 'two bodies'; the natural (mortal) and the politic (spiritual). In an ideal existence, the King brings together Christ's divine and earthly effects, and the expectation of this fusion has become essential for understanding- not only Shakespeare's play, but the whole political culture of early modern England," explains Douglas.

Douglas took some time to fully contemplate how this may manifest itself most clearly to a contemporary, 21st Century audience. "While combing through the play and meditating on modern day parallels for what I believe to be its inherent seeds of fundamentalism, I was determined to remain faithful to the script's original intent to expose each character's humanity and articulated need that drives them forward." This is also exactly why Sisto is so delighted to be playing Richard, "I'm drawn to the journey man makes; how grace is achieved." Douglas sums up his vision of Shakespeare's work poetically, "We tend not the surface, but the driving forces inside, and the belief that these characters are 'real' and have real lives behind them that press them forward."

Douglas and Sisto are intent on staying faithful to the text, using current parallels to expose the true human beings drawn by Shakespeare's poetic voice. "Timothy assures me that the concept will not be at odds with the text and I trust him," says Sisto. "I've been in the trenches with [Douglas] and know that he works for the play. I've seen him in two very different roles in the course of one season and can tell you that he is a generous, talented actor with a keen eye and someone you want to spend time with both on stage and off."

THE HISTORY CYCLE: or the second "Tetralogy" was written somewhat later in Shakespeare's career. A tetralogy refers to four works telling one story. Shakespeare wrote two such epics in reverse order. The first cycle is comprised of 1 Henry VI, 2 Henry VI, 3 Henry VI, and (ever-popular audience-favorite) Richard III. This cycle covers the end of the 100 Years War, The Wars of the Roses, and the founding of the Tudor dynasty. The second cycle, and the one Shakespeare & Company is about to begin with this season, consists of Richard II, 1 Henry IV, 2 Henry IV, Henry V. This cycle covers the early usurpation of the English throne by Richard II, through the rebellions which see Henry IV installed as King of England, and finally concluding with Henry V marching boldly against the French at Agincourt, which marks the true beginning of the 100 Years War.

Tony Simotes, Artistic Director of Shakespeare & Company, is excited about beginning this cycle and the upcoming artistic possibilities the series represents.

"We've never tackled the Histories as an agenda item for the Company," Simotes says, "but I really felt that we were ready to take them on. We need to explore them and tackle them from the perspective of all three pillars of the Company: Performance, Training, and Education. At the same time, we can begin to delve into America's history by creating new productions-not just about political leaders - but leaders from the many sociological movements that have shaped this country into what it is today. It could be a leader in journalism like Dorothy Parker, brought to life in 2012's Cassandra Speaks or a Jazz-master like Louis Armstrong in Satchmo at the Waldorf."

Director of Training, Dennis Krausnick points out that there are only a handful of other history plays written by Shakespeare which are not included in a cycle: "King John was the guy who signed the Magna Carta in the early 13th Century; Edward III was recently added to the Canon of Shakespeare's plays because sections of it match his style so perfectly that it's obvious that he wrote some of it; and Henry VIII, or All is One, is about England's separation from Rome and the founding of the Church of England, the fall of Cardinal Wolsey, and the divorce of Catherine of Aragon, the first of Henry's wives."

Krausnick also suggests that Peter Saccio's Shakespeare's English Kings is an excellent resource for anyone wishing to learn a little more background on the "sad stories of the death of kings." He also laughs, saying, "And the next time you see an AP wire-release about another English King's bones being found under yet another parking lot in the Northern Midlands, you can shrug it off, knowing that you read the book and there's no surprise there."

Timothy Douglas founding member (Director of Richard II). S&Co: King Lear(Oswald), Tempest (Trinculo), Antony & Cleopatra (Soothsayer), A Midsummer Night's Dream Starveling), Shakesquad & Clown Co. (Sandefur Yellow), As You Like It(LeBeau, Amiens, Hymen), All's Well That Ends Well (King), and Blue/Orange (director). Staged the world premieres of August Wilson's RADIO GOLF (Yale Rep), Rajiv Joseph'sThe Lake Effect (Silk Road Rising), three Humana Festival plays (Actors Theatre of Louisville, associate artistic director), as well as Trip To Bountiful (Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, associate artist),Bronte: A Portrait of Charlotte (off-Broadway), and projects for the Guthrie, Steppenwolf, Center Theatre Group,American Conservatory Theater, Berkshire Theatre Festival, National Theater of Norway, and many others. Timothy is a Linklater voice instructor and has taught at USC, Emerson College and New Zealand Drama School. MFA: Yale School of Drama.

Rocco Sisto founding member (Richard in Richard II) S&Co: Seen last season as Caliban in The Tempest. Broadway: To Be Or Not To Be (Manhatten Theatre Club),Amadeus (Music Box Theatre), A Month In The Country (Roundabout Theatre), The Comedy Of Errors (Lincoln Center); Recent Off Broadway: Old Fashioned Prostitutes(Public Theater), Volpone (Red Bull Theater), Iphenia 2.0 (Signature Theatre). Regional theatre credits include ACT-Seattle and Seattle Rep., Mark Taper -L.A., The Guthrie, Dallas Theatre Center, Center Stage Baltimore, among others. Films include Donnie Brasco, Frequency, Eraser, Illuminata, Carlito's Way and the cult hit The American Astronaut. Television: "MildrEd Pierce", "The Sopranos", "Law & Order", "Law & Order: C.I.", "Homicide", "C.S.I.", "666 Park Ave.", "Star Trek T.N.G.", "Alias", "N.Y.P.D. Blue", Awards: OBIE winner for Sustained Excellence, OBIE for The Winter's Tale (Public Theatre) OBIE and Drama Desk nomination and Drama League Award for Quills(N.Y.T.W.). He holds an MFA from the NYU Graduate Acting Program. Student of Peter Kass. Rocco will can also be seen in the Company's Studio Series of play readings in Theresa Rebeck's Seminar on July 24 at 5:00pm.

RICHARD II
Tina Packer Playhouse
Performance Dates:
Friday, July 5, 2013 PREVIEW 7:30
Saturday, July 6, 2013 PREVIEW 7:30
Sunday, July 7, 2013 PREVIEW 2:00
Tuesday, July 9, 2013 PREVIEW 7:30
Wednesday, July 10, 2013 PREVIEW 7:30
Thursday, July 11, 2013 PREVIEW 7:30
Friday, July 12, 2013 PRESS OPENING 7:30
Saturday, July 13, 2013 2:00
Sunday, July 14, 2013 7:30
Tuesday, July 16, 2013 7:30
Wednesday, July 17, 2013 2:00
Thursday, July 18, 2013 7:30
Friday, July 19, 2013 7:30
Saturday, July 20, 2013 7:30
Sunday, July 21, 2013 2:00 CLOSING



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