Hip To Hip Theatre Company Announces 2018 Season

Hip to Hip Theatre Company's 2018 season has it all: historical saga, epic tragedy, and sparkling comedy.

Kicking off the season will be Hip to Hip's first indoor offering: a free staged reading of Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 2, finishing what Hip to Hip started with last season's triumphant production of Henry IV, Part 1. Shakespeare's action-packed and hilarious cavalcade of noble warriors, scheming rebels, and brawling tavern scoundrels, led by the iconic Sir John Falstaff, will be staged on April 28th at 2 pm at The Queens Museum; and April 29th at 7 pm at The Actors Company Theatre (TACT).

Henry IV, Part 2 is directed by Adriana Alter who has worked on numerous productions with Hip to Hip including The Merry Wives of Windsor, Julius Caesar, and Measure for Measure. The reading features an accomplished cast including Daren Kelly (Broadway; Deathtrap, Woman of the Year, Crazy for You, and South Pacific), and Evangelia Kingsley (Broadway; Coram Boy and The Light in the Piazza).

Next up will be Hip to Hip's flagship program of Free Shakespeare in the Parks. From family betrayals to fairytale endings, from magical storms to miraculous potions, King Lear (directed by Artistic Director Jason Marr), and All's Well That Ends Well, (directed by company member Owen Thompson), delve into seduction, violence, and the courage it takes to be an outsider. King Lear and All's Well That Ends Well will perform in rotating repertory from July 26 to August 26 at thirteen parks throughout Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and the Bronx. In addition, Hip to Hip's popular children's workshop "Kids & the Classics" will be offered thirty minutes before each performance. Dates and venues will be announced at the end of April. All performances are free and open to the public.

Artistic Director Jason Marr, discussed what drew him to choosing this season's plays, "In planning the 2018 season, I wanted to expand Hip to Hip's programming in some meaningful way, I wanted to continue chipping away at our long-term goal of working through Shakespeare's entire cannon, and I wanted to make sure that all of our programming remained free and open to the public."

More info can be found at www.hiptohip.org

Henry IV, Part 2 Staged Reading

Henry IV, Part 2
The king lies dying, haunted by guilt and still yearning to atone by going on pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Meanwhile, in the taverns of Eastcheap, the irrepressible reveler Falstaff schemes to use his influence over Prince Hal, the heir to the throne, to sell government offices. As a fresh wave of rebellion sweeps the kingdom, Hal must turn his back on his wild friends and get ready to assume the crown.

Saturday, April 28th at 2:00 pm
The Queens Museum, New York City Building, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, NY 11368

Sunday, April 29th at 7:00 pm
The Actors Company Theatre (TACT), 900 Broadway (Between 19th & 20th), New York, NY 10003

the company is led by Natalia Cuevas (Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival) who returns to play Prince Hal. The cast also includes Chaunice Chapman, Daren Kelly, Evangelia Kingsley, Kurt Kingsley, Sam Leichter, Jason Marr, Joy Marr, Sabrina Marr, Elisabeth S. Rodgers, Owen Thompson, and William Oliver Watkins.

Free Summer Shakespeare in the Parks

King Lear
The aging King Lear decides to divide his kingdom among his three daughters based on their love for him. Misunderstanding his youngest daughter's refusal to flatter him, he disowns her in favor of her ruthless, manipulative sisters...who promptly strip him of power, wealth, and sanity. Shakespeare's spectacular tragedy pits good against evil as the exiled princess returns to claim the throne.

All's Well That Ends Well
Having restored the King's health with a miraculous potion, Helena requests Count Bertram's hand in marriage in return. But when the arrogant Bertram refuses to marry beneath his class and flees from both King and bride to the nearest war, Shakespeare's courageous heroine must stop at nothing to bring him home. Meanwhile, Bertram's friends hilariously unmask the swashbuckling braggart Parolles.

Kids & the Classics
"Kids & the Classics" is the companion piece to Hip to Hip's program of "Free Shakespeare in the Parks." This free interactive workshop is offered 30 minutes before every performance and is designed for children ages 4 to 12. It gives children a chance to interact with the text by previewing the characters and situations and creating links between the text and their own lives through theatre games and close reading of text.

About Hip to Hip Theatre Company
Hip to Hip is dedicated to stimulating and developing interest in the theatre arts in underserved communities by providing free, family-friendly, professional productions of popular classics, and free theatre workshops for children, in public spaces. Hip to Hip tours its program of "Free Shakespeare in the Park" to thirteen parks throughout all five boroughs of NYC.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/HiptoHipTheatre
Twitter: @HiptoHipTheatre

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