Henry IV

Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s (CST) 20th Anniversary year will be aptly inaugurated with a trans-Atlantic production of Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2, currently running at Shakespeare’s heartland home on Chicago’s Navy Pier through June 18, 2006, and concluding at his birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon, England at the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), July 6-15, 2006. The production, staged by CST Artistic Director Barbara Gaines, marks the debut of CST at the RSC, and is part of the historic, first-ever RSC Complete Works Festival—a year-long celebration presenting the entire Shakespeare canon. CST is one of only three U.S. companies invited to perform at the Festival.

Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2 is Shakespeare’s seamless two-play cycle which counterpoints a pivotal period of civil strife during Henry IV’s reign against the coming of age antics of his son, Prince Hal, and his unruly sidekick, Sir John Falstaff. The historic sweep of the two plays is realized as a single, marathon event for the Chicago and RSC Festival engagements. The production and trans-Atlantic transfer of these expansive history plays is a major undertaking which required extraordinary support from two corporations with a deep commitment to Chicago’s cultural community.

Throughout its 20-year history Chicago Shakespeare Theater and its leaders, Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and Executive Director Criss Henderson, have built strong cultural ties with Britain. A testament of these artistic partnerships was realized in February 2006 as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II awarded Barbara Gaines with an Honorary OBE (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in recognition of her unique role in strengthening of British-American cultural relations. CST regularly collaborates with British artists as part of the Theater’s international programming initiative, The World’s Stage. In 2001, CST presented The Mystery of Charles Dickens, starring popular British film and stage actor Simon Callow. In 2003, CST staged the U.S. Premiere of British director Edward Hall’s Rose Rage at CST and subsequently Off-Broadway, and teamed with London’s Donmar Warehouse to present CST’s production of Pacific Overtures, receiving the Olivier Award for Outstanding Musical Production. In 2004, CST presented the Shakespeare’s Globe production of Twelfth Night, starring Mark Rylance. The trans-Atlantic collaboration continues this fall—CST’s 20th Anniversary Subscription Season begins with Hamlet, staged by Terry Hands, former Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Henry IV cast members, many of whom have helped build Chicago Shakespeare’s artistic reputation over the past 20 years, will make a comfortable transition from CST’s Courtyard Theater to the RSC’s Swan Theatre, which was a model for the design of Shakespeare’s Chicago home on Navy Pier.

The cast of Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2 includes, alphabetically: Dale Benson as Justice Silence; Jeffrey Carlson as Prince Hal; Kate Fry as Lady Percy; Kevin Gudahl as Pistol/Douglas/Lord Bardolph; Susan Hart as Doll Tearsheet; Matthew Hawkins as Gadshill/Harcourt/Shadow; Brian Herriott as Gloucester/Mortimer/Travers; Scott Jaeck as Westmoreland/Sheriff/Fang; Timothy Edward Kane as Poins/Sir Michel/Morton; Dan Kenney as Bardolph; Ross Lehman as Rumour/Peto/Hastings; David Lively as King Henry; Richard Manera as Musician/Wart; Braden Moran as Blunt/Gower; Jessie Mueller as Lady Mortimer; Mike Nussbaum as Justice Shallow; John Reeger as Archbishop of York/Glendower/Davey; Matt Schwader as Falstaff’s Page/Clarence; Robert Scogin as Worcester/Chief Justice; Lusia Strus as Mistress Quickley/Lady Glendower; John Douglas Thompson as Hotspur/Mowbray; Greg Vinkler as Falstaff; Jay Whittaker as John of Lancaster/Feeble; and Bruce A. Young as Northumberland/Vernon/Snare.

The design team for Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2 includes scenic design by Neil Patel; lighting design by Ken Billington; costume design by Virgil Johnson; wig and make-up design by Melissa Veal; sound design by Lindsay Jones; music composed by Alaric “Rokko” Jans; fight choreography by Robin H. McFarquhar; and vocal coaching by Phyllis Griffin.

The complete Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2 is performed with two intermissions and a meal break in the following schedule:

At Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier – now through June 18, 2006

Wednesday, May 17 at 5:45 p.m.; Wednesday, May 24, 31, June 7, and 14 at 11:00 a.m.; Friday, May 19, 26, June 2, 9, 16 at 5:45 p.m.; Saturday, May 20, 27, June 3, 10, and 17 at 4:00 p.m.; Sunday, May 21, 28, June 4, 11, and 18 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets to the production are $95, with an optional $19 for a gourmet boxed dinner. For further information and to purchase tickets, call the Chicago Shakespeare Theater Box Office at 312.595.5600, or visit the Theater's website at www.chicagoshakes.com.

At the Royal Shakespeare Company – July 6 through 15, 2006

Henry IV Part 1 will be presented on July 6, 8, 13, and 15 at 1:15 p.m., with a 1:00 p.m. matinee on July 11. Henry IV Part 2 will be presented on July 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, and 15 at 7:15 p.m., with a 7:00 p.m. performance on July 11. Tickets for the RSC’s Complete Works Festival are £5-25 each, for Part 1 and Part 2, and can be purchased online at www.rsccompleteworks.co.uk.