Rochester Community Players' RICHARD II Opens Tonight

Richard II, Shakespeare's masterful drama of a king who lost his throne and gained insight into his soul, opens for ten performances tonight, April 10 at the MuCCC Theater, 142 Atlantic Avenue. Produced by the Shakespeare Players program of the Rochester Community Players, this will be the first of four history plays, known in Shakespeare circles as the "Henriad", staged by the company.

Henry IV part 1 and Henry IV part 2 will be performed as two separate plays, staged in repertory (performed on alternate nights) at the Free Shakespeare at the Highland Park Bowl in late June and early July, and Henry V will be staged at MuCCC Theater in November.

Richard II is directed by Peter Scribner, President of the Rochester Community Players and founder of RCP's Shakespeare Players program. Unlike other MuCCC productions, this show will be staged with the audience surrounding the acting area on three sides (half the seating will be moved to the opposite side of the theater). The show will feature several other Elizabethan staging practices, such as direct contact between the audience and characters, continuous action (no blackouts or scene changes) and a production script based on the 1623 First Folio of Shakespeare's works.

Brad Craddock, a member of the faculty at the Rochester School of the Arts, will be performing the title role as King Richard. Craddock has performed with the Shakespeare Players many times, most recently as Edgar in King Lear last Fall. Craddock will be co-directing the two Henry IV productions this summer at the Highland Bowl, along with Stephanie Roosa.

His nemesis, Henry Bolingbroke, is portrayed by Jeffery Jones, who has performed with us many times before, as Iago in Othello and as the King in Richard III, among other roles. Jones will continue with the character this summer at the Highland Bowl, as Henry Bolingbroike becomes King Henry IV.

Performance Schedule:
Friday, April 10 at 7:30 PM
Saturday, April 11 at 7:30 PM
Sunday April 12 at 2:00
Thursday, April 16 at 7:30 PM
Friday, April 17 at 7:30 PM
Saturday, April 18 at 7:30 PM
Sunday April 19 at 2:00
Wednesday, April 22 at 7:30 PM
Friday, April 24 at 7:30 PM
Saturday, April 25 at 7:30 PM

Note: There is no performance scheduled April 23; we will be celebrating Shakespeare's Birthday that evening with our annual fund-raiser at MuCCC Theater.

$19 General Admission; $14 Seniors (over age 65); $9 Juniors (under age 25); tickets are available online at muccc.org or by phone at 866-811-4111 (there is a $1 per order fee for phone orders).

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