Photo Flash: First Look at HENRY VI: THE WARS OF THE ROSES, PART 2 at Cincinnati Shakespeare

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company continues its season and concludes its multi-year history cycle with Henry VI: The Wars of the Roses, Part 2 and Richard III, by William Shakespeare. This production is directed by CSC Producing Artistic Director, Brian Isaac Phillips. This production features Cincinnati Shakespeare's Resident Ensemble members including Darnell Pierre Benjamin at King Henry VI, Kelly Mengelkoch as Queen Margaret, and Billy Chace as King Richard III. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

With these productions, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company becomes the second theater company in the United States to complete Shakespeare's entire history cycle in chronological order. The cycle began in 2013 with Richard II and continued through 2014's Henry IV, 2015's Henry V, and 2016's Henry VI: The Wars of the Roses, Part 1.

In Henry VI: The Wars of the Roses, Part 2, sides have been chosen and loyalties of family and friendship are tested as the Wars of the Roses blaze through England. The ambitious Duke of York (Giles Davies) has challenged the rule of the kindly but weak Henry VI (Darnell Pierre Benjamin) and his ruthless queen, Margaret (Kelly Mengelkoch). Amidst this tumult of battle and chaos, Richard (Billy Chace), the hunchbacked and hideous Duke of Gloucester, sets his eyes on kingship and begins his slow but inexorable rise to power. His story continues in Richard III, in which Richard's murderous manipulations finally place him on the throne, only to find his tyrannical rule opposed by the fledgling Tudor dynasty.

Henry VI: The Wars of the Roses, Part 2 runs January 20-February 11, with performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sunday at 2:00 PM as well as Saturday Feb. 11 at 2:00 PM. There is no performance on Sunday, Jan. 22. The theater is currently located at 719 Race Street, downtown Cincinnati, two blocks west of the Aronoff Center. To purchase tickets or for more information, call the CSC Box Office at 513.381.BARD (2273) ext. 1, or go online at www.cincyshakes.com.