Photo Flash: Austin Shakespeare's Wolf Hall

Austin Shakespeare is kicking off the 2016-2017 season with a staged reading of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall (Part I only), running September 22 - 25, 2016 at the Rollins Studio Theatre at the Long Center for the Performing Arts. Mantel's best-selling novel, which was adapted for stage by Michael Poulton, is a thrilling reimagining of life under Henry VIII with an unlikely hero at the center, Thomas Cromwell, the son of a blacksmith who rose to become one of the most powerful men in England. After a sold-out Broadway run and rave reviews, Austin Shakespeare is thrilled to produce the Southwest premiere of Wolf Hall with a fully costumed staged reading directed by Artistic Director Ann Ciccolella.

The intriguing Thomas Cromwell will be played by Erik Parillo with Ben Wolfe as Henry VIII and Helen Merino as Anne Boleyn. They'll be joined by Kristofer Adkins as Gregory Cromwell, David Bankston as George Boleyn, Victoria Barton as Jane Seymour/Princess Mary, Steve Cruz as Harry Percy/William Brereton, Nancy Eyermann as Elizabeth Cromwell/Mary Boleyn, Devin Finn as the Duke of Suffolk, Levi Gore as Mark Smeaton, Thomas Wyatt, Tom Green as Thomas More/Henry Norris, Quinn Lara as Rafe Sadler, Michael Lucus as Stephen Gardiner/Chapuys, Andrew Matthews as Thomas Cranmer/Sir Thomas Boleyn/French Ambassador, Georgia McLeland as Christophe/Francis Weston, Marc Pouhé as Cardinal Wolsey, Patrick Schmidt as the Duke of Norfolk, and Johanna Whitmore as Katherine of Aragon/Lady Rochford. Teen Guitarist Lief Tilton will accompany the show.

Tickets start at $18. To make a reservation, visit http://bit.ly/2bdEZih or call the Long Center's 3M Box Office at (512) 474-LONG (5664), TTY (800) 735-2989.

Creative Team

Ann Ciccolella - Director

Patrick Anthony - Lighting Designer

Jennifer R. Davis - Costume Designer

William Meadows - Sound Designer

Toni Bravo - Choreographer

Lowell Bartholomee - Video Designer

ABOUT AUSTIN SHAKESPEARE: Founded in 1984 and the only professional classical theater company in Central Texas, Austin Shakespeare presents professional theater of the highest quality with an emphasis on the plays of William Shakespeare, bringing to the public performances that are fresh, bold, imaginative, thought-provoking, and eminently accessible, connecting the truths of the past with the challenges and possibilities of today. In the fall and spring, Austin Shakespeare also produces plays by Shaw, Schiller, and Stoppard at The Long Center for the Performing Arts Rollins Studio Theatre. Austin Shakespeare's ongoing "Shakespeare Aloud" reading group and "Artist's Way" sessions invite new participants weekly. Austin Shakespeare's education program 20/20 sends professional actors into the schools to encourage love of language.

Austin Shakespeare is a proud member of the Austin Creative Alliance.