Cohesion Theatre Company to Present William Shakespeare's HENRY THE FIFTH

Cohesion Theatre Company is proud to announce the second main stage show of their 2016/17 Season, William Shakespeare's Henry the Fifth.

Award winning director and Cohesion Co-Founder Alice Stanley teams with Jane Jongeward to co-direct this reimagined war time classic going up at Cohesion's space at United Evangelical Church for 11 performances March 9th - 26th, 2017.

"One of England's greatest and most glorified kings, Shakespeare's Henry the Fifth is known for his powerful speeches, and for a victory granted by God against impossible odds," says Stanley. "What is left of Henry and his struggles if we take away glory? Instead of aggrandizing Henry's heroic deeds, in this production, we explore the doubled edges of violence glorified for country and violence glorified for kin."

Stanley and Jongeward have transported the action from its historical location of 1400s England and France to 1882 Appalachia and more specifically to Tug Valley on the border of Kentucky and West Virginia during the height of the Hatfield and McCoy Feud. Employing traditional Bluegrass music and ballads along with three-quarter rounded stage and period accurate violence, Cohesion offers an immersive experience that highlights the human cost in the midst of the conflict of nations and kings.

Prince Hal no more, Henry the Fifth has inherited the crown upon the death of his Father, and must overcome the bluster of his youth to lead his people. But his brashness soon brings him into conflict with the Lords of France, and he must now command a war weary nation from the front lines. Inspiring in its speeches and epic scope, Cohesion brings the courts of England and France to rest in 1882 Appalachia in an effort to strip away the nobility and create an intimate examination of brutality and glory that leads us to ask; What contradictions and consonances do we see in the human and specific costs of violence when shifting the scale of the struggle?

Opening night for Henry the Fifth is Thursday, March 9 at 8pm. Following opening night the show will run Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 4 pm from March 9th - 26th, 2017.

Tickets are $20 for Adults and $15 for Students and Seniors and can be purchased online at www.cohesiontheatre.org. A special industry night performance will be held Monday, March 20th at 8 pm at which tickets for all artists will be just $10.

Cohesion performs in "The Fallout Shelter" at United Evangelical Church (923 S. East Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21224) at the corner of East Avenue and Dillon Street in Canton. Patrons should enter the space through the grey doors on East Avenue.

For more information about the 2016/17 Season at Cohesion Theatre Company, visit www.cohesiontheatre.org.

CAST:

Zach Bopst - Henry the Fifth

Meghan Stanton - Exeter

Micaela Mannix - Katherine/Boy/Bates

Lyle Smythers - Pistol

Caitlin Carbone - Dauphin/Cambridge

Chara Bauer - Constable/Gray

Barbara Hauck - Fluellen

Daniel Douek - Gower

Nancy Linden - French King/Williams/Bedford

Elana Michelle - Bardolph/Orleans

Matthew Casella - Nym/Montjoy/Court

Katharine Vary - Hostess/Rambures/Westmoreland

Lance Bankerd - Chorus/Erpingham/Scroop/Fr.Soldier/Messenger

PRODUCTION TEAM:

Alice Stanley - Director

Jane Jongeward - Director

Jeff Miller - Stage Manager

Lana Riggins - Lighting Designer

Heather Johnston - Costume Designer

Casey Dutt - Set Designer

Brad Norris - Production Manager & Fight Choreographer

Matthew Casella - Music Director

Kris Messer - Dramaturg