RICHARD II Begins The Fire And Reign Series At Orlando Shakes

William Shakespeare's Richard II produced by Orlando Shakes in partnership with UCF runs from March 27 - April 28, 2019. Tickets (starting at $30) are available now by phone (407) 447-1700 ext. 1, online at orlandoshakes.org, or in person at the John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center (812 East Rollins Street).

"I wasted time, and now doth time waste me." Convinced of his divine right to rule, King Richard II never expected to be undone by his own maladroit mortal wrongs. By brashly putting his own vanity before the needs of his kingdom, he creates the perfect opening for Henry Bolingbroke to seize the throne. Shakespeare's deeply moving and insightful retelling reveals how one man's bumbling mistakes can shape a nation's political landscape and change the course of history.

"This production infuses the classic Shakespearean verse with a new thematic interpretation, and that allows our Theater to speak to Richard II's traditional roots and to a modern audience, " Artistic Director Jim Helsinger said. "Director Eleanor Holdridge's vision is truly unique in its design by incorporating contemporary themes such as gender inequity in politics, factual truths and fabricated realities, and the connection we have with ourselves in a world full of mirrors."

Richard II is the first in the Fire and Reign series. Over three seasons, Orlando Shakes will produce seven Shakespeare productions, covering the Hundred Years War and the War of the Roses, from Richard II - Richard III.

Orlando Shakes' Richard II features:

Ryan Farley* as Richard II & Ensemble. Orlando Shakes: Debut. New York: Tis Pity She's a Whore and The Revenger's Tragedy (Red Bull Theater Company), Crave (Bosley Theatrical Productions) Diary of a Chambermaid (Dramahaus, NYC). Developed the role of Dr. Dmitri Ramsov in Serendib (Ensemble Studio Theatre). Regional: Hound of the Baskervilles (Portland Stage Company); Boeing Boeing (Hartford Stage Company); Measure for Measure and Arms and the Man (Peterborough Players); Twelfth Night and Henry VI: Blood and Roses (Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey); Rock n Roll (The Wilma Theatre); Titus Andronicus (Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington D.C.); Macbeth, King John, Henry V, Henry VIII, and Richard III (Utah Shakespearean Festival); A Christmas Carol (American Conservatory Theater). Ryan is a graduate of the American Conservatory Theater's M.F.A. actor training program.

Amy Hutchins* as Hereford & Ensemble. Hutchins is making her debut at Orlando Shakes. Off-Broadway Credits include: Midsummer Night's Dream and Taming of the Shrew (New York Classical Theatre); The Tempest (Pearl Theatre Company). Regional Credits include: Outside Mullingar and Constellations (Shaker Bridge Theatre); The Knights of the Sales Office (Adirondack Theatre Festival); One Man, Two Guvnors (Florida Studio Theatre); Wait Until Dark - the Hatcher adaptation (Public Theatre of Maine); Wait Until Dark -original version and It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (Arkansas Repertory Theatre); Bedroom Farce (Florida Repertory Theatre); Dividing the Estate (People's Light & Theatre Company); The Foreigner (Festival Stage of Winston-Salem); Twelfth Night (Shakespeare Theatre of NJ); as well as classical productions at American Players Theatre, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival and Cincinnati Shakespeare. For a more complete resume go to www.AmyHutchins.net. TV: Hacking Chronicles (AT&T). Podcast: Six Minutes (Gen-Z Media). Proud member of Actors' Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA.

Jan Neuberger* as Gaunt & Ensemble. Neuberger is a veteran actor of 46 years and counting. Broadway: original casts of Wicked, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Big, A Change in the Heir and the first revival of Gypsy in 1974. Off-Broadway, regional and stock productions in abundance; Carnegie and Royal Albert Halls, including the live recording of Kristina by Bjorn Ulvaeus & Benny Anderson; a couple films and a smattering of TV (coming in April: web series A Coupla Pros). Teacher, coach, writer currently developing a full-length play; student and summa cum laude grad/B.A. with honors in English, Trinity College Class of '13. Florida: Boeing Boeing & Informed Consent, Gulfshore Playhouse; Tartuffe, American Stage; Ethel opposite Mike Farrel's Norman, On Golden Pond, Alhambra. AEA, SAG-AFTRA. www.boomergirl.net

The cast also features Anne Hering* as York & Ensemble, Timothy Williams* as Mowbray & Ensemble, Stelson Telfort as Aumerle & Ensemble, Ana Martinez Medina as Queen & Ensemble, and Daniel James Roth as Bushy & Ensemble.

Director Eleanor Holdridge's*** off-Broadway productions include world premieres of Selma '65 (LaMaMa), Steve & Idi (Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre), and Cycling Past The Matterhorn (Clurman Theatre). Regional credits include World Premieres of David Grimm's adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac, Meg Miroshnik's FiCKLE: A Fancy French Farce, Lauren Gunderson's The Revolutionists (Cincinnati Playhouse), Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley (Roundhouse Theatre) and I and You (Olney and Geva Theaters); Caleen Sinnette Jennings' Queens Girl in the World (Theatre J) and Darius & Twig (Kennedy Center TYA), and Zorro (Constellaton Stage), which she co-wrote. She has directed twenty-four of Shakespeare's plays, some of them multiple times. Recent regional credits include The Crucible at Olney Theatre Center and Lauren Gunderson's Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley at Cincinnati Playhouse. Upcoming projects include Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival.

The artistic team also includes Assistant Director Alexandra Rocha, Scenic Designer Ruthmarie Tenorio, Lighting Designer Elie Siegel, Costume Designer Denise R. Warner, Sound Designer Britt Sandusky.

*Member of Actors' Equity Association
***Member of Society of Directors and Choreographers

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