Henry VIII at Children's Shakespeare Theatre

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Children’s Shakespeare Theatre completes the canon with Henry VIII

Performances Fridays, November 7th and 15th at 7pm and Saturdays, November 8th and 16th at 2pm,
all at the Palisades Presbyterian Church, 117 Washington Spring Road, Palisades, NY. 

Palisades, NY – Children’s Shakespeare Theatre (CST) a local non-profit in Rockland County presents a traditional production of Henry VIII or All Is True. This show, presented by the younger company, features children ages eight through thirteen. Attired in clothes of the Shakespearean period, the children will present this classic tale. 

You may have heard the story of Henry VIII and his six wives, or seen the musical Six. But you have probably never seen children perform this Shakespeare play, which deals mainly with the ending of Henry’s first marriage and the birth of Shakespeare’s patron, Queen Elizabeth. 

The children performing in Henry VIII have been surprised by the parallels between this court of four hundred years ago and their own experiences in elementary and middle school. As these tweens navigate distinguishing truth from rumor, deciding who to trust, and making the best choices under stressful circumstances, so too do Shakespeare’s heroes. In the play, King Henry VIII is concerned that his twenty-year marriage to Queen Katherine might not be legitimate. His closest advisor, Cardinal Wolsey, has executed a political rival and raised taxes so high that the countryside is in revolt.  When King Henry meets Anne Boleyn at a party at Wolsey’s house, the plot thickens.

Children’s Shakespeare Theatre’s production of Henry VIII or All Is True features Levon Goldberg as Henry VIII, Aaron Benjamin as Cardinal Wolsey, Erica Winfree as Queen Katharine, and Anna Wennerod as Anne Boleyn, along with Ruth Benjamin, Avery Chase, Colette Dickey, Penelope Duval, Iris King, Nora Maloney, Stella Mattii, Amanda Oh, Charles Reimann Valdes, Milosh Todorovic, Maxine Wedelich, and Myla Zimbler in multiple roles.

Henry VIII or All Is True is directed by CST Artistic Director Brady Amoonclark, assisted by Giverny Petitmermet and Marco Jo Clate. Costumes are by Guy Carsone, assisted by Katy Bolger. Lighting is by Michael Gnazzo.

This production of Henry VIII, during our 25th Season, is a milestone for CST as it marks the completion of the entirety of Shakespeare’s canon. Once performed, Children’s Shakespeare Theatre will have performed every play that Shakespeare wrote. We are proud of our achievement and invite you to come celebrate by joining us for a sparkling cider toast at the opening night of Henry VIII!

Children’s Shakespeare Theatre draws children from all over Rockland, Westchester and Bergen counties. CST is dedicated to providing a nurturing and enriching environment through the performance of classical theatre, allowing children to explore, in a safe and supportive educational setting, what it means to be human. 

Children’s Shakespeare Theatre is extremely proud to be the recipient of a generous grant from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature. Support also comes from sponsors including the Jerome Robbins Foundation, Nyack Dentist Dwayne Bodie and our many individual donors. 

Tickets for all performances are $25 for adults and $20 for children under 18.  Group rates are available. Teachers attend free of charge. Tickets and more information about Children’s Shakespeare Theatre can be found on our website:  www.childrensshakespeare.org

Authors

• William Shakespeare