Summer with the Rebellious Subjects
We are ready for a spiritual revival in the theatre. Big tents and choirs; impassioned speeches and miracles. A good pot-luck picnic never hurt anyone either. At times of economic turmoil and uncertainy, of social reaction and revolution, the work of theatre artists is more essential than ever.
At such junctures, we could ask ourselves what will make money or attempt to anticipate to what demographic our work will appeal. Instead, we resolve to revisit all the reasons we fight to be theatre artists, why we continue commit ourselves to reviving and reimagining classical work.
So this summer we return to our Shakespearean roots for our biggest project yet: Henry IV and Henry V performed in the Prospect Park Music Pagoda.
We are thrilled to be working with vetran RST director Melisa Annis (Twelfth Night, Under Milk Wood) who will be directing Henry V, and to be bringing in a new talent, Elyzabeth Gorman, who will be directing a cut version of Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2. Our cast consists of twenty classically trained actors, some RST favorites and some new blood.
As we reenact the war histories of Engalnd this summer, we ask our audiences to become a part of the dialogue on war - its necessity, its human impact, its devastation. But as much as the Henry's are plays about war, they are moreso plays about passion: what moves the human race to fight and laugh and love.
We hope that by the end of the summer, you will feel as deeply as we do the convictions brought about by the experience of this work.
