Atlas Shakespeare Company is proud to provide New York’s theater community with a rare chance to experience Shakespeare's earliest work: the epic Henry VI plays! Join us for a unique, unforgettable theatrical event: an intimate, urgently-paced political thriller about power, passion, and betrayal, featuring some of Shakespeare's most wickedly funny scenes, most vibrant characters, most beautiful language, and most heartbreaking plot twists. We have exhilarating sword fights, spectacular medieval costumes, and tour de force performances by 16 extraordinary cast members—not to mention, cloak-and-dagger conspiracies, demon-summoning ceremonies, murderous pirates, Joan of Arc, a severed head, and much more! With only 7 performances, tickets are in limited supply. Don’t miss out on the chance to join the adventure; get yours today! https://www.atlasshakespearecompany.com/current-show
Cast and Creative team for Henry VI: Parts 1 & 2 at Factory Series at the Chain Theatre
Cast
Ned Bannon
King Henry VI; Salisbury; Messenger #3
Ned Bannon is a rising senior at Oberlin College, studying theater and cinema. He is so excited to be taking part in his first show in New York. He would like to thank his one and only, Nick Henneman, and his girlfriend, Sidney Cotto.
Justin Bennett*
Gloucester's Servant; Hume; Peter; Pirate Captain
As an actor – New York theater productions include The Tempest, Cymbeline, Burial at Thebes, Twelfth Night, Three Sisters, Macbeth, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, As You Like It, Laughter on the 23rd Floor, King Lear, Much Ado About Nothing, Romeo & Juliet, Lovebird Jamboree (Best Ensemble Award at Fresh Fruit Festival). Regional theater includes Rhinoceros (Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater), Legend of Sleepy Hollow (East Lynne Theater Company), Alexander and the Terrible... (Mill Mountain Theatre). As a director – New York theater productions include The Adding Machine, All My Sons, Boys Next Door.
Charlotte Blacklock*
Margaret; Messenger #2
A long-time enthusiast of English history, Charlotte has greatly enjoyed being a part of bringing this production to life. She has performed in a number of Shakespeare festivals on the eastern seaboard, and favorite roles include Phebe in As You Like It with the Baltimore Shakespeare Factory and Luciana in The Comedy of Errors with Classical Theatre of Maryland (formerly Annapolis Shakespeare Company). In addition to her work on stage, she is an experienced voice actor, singer and musician, and an aspiring playwright. Many thanks to the wonderful cast and crew for this experience. www.charlotteblacklock.com.
Chris Clark
Reignier; Mayor of London; Horner
Chris Clark is thrilled to be a part of this wonderful story with an amazing group of uber-talented actors. He is very grateful to his family and friends for their unwavering support. His recent credits include "Holy God, Who's Next," which was part of the Secret Theatre's short play festival. Chris is also thankful for all of you who have come to be entertained by this exciting story. He hopes you enjoy this show as much as he does.
Zachary C. Clark*
Suffolk; Messenger #1
Zach has been living and working in theater and film in New York since 2010. He currently teaches Drama at the School of Collaborative Studies in Chelsea.
Timm Coleman*
Talbot; Southwell; Whitmore
Timm Coleman was born in Hollywood, California, circumvented the globe aboard the USS Enterprise, rode his bicycle cross-country during the pandemic, and is planning a boat trip from NYC to New Orleans via the Great Lakes and Mississippi River. A William Esper Alumni, he feels that performing Shakespeare (like French cuisine and Italian architecture) helps to move his left and right brain from contentious bickering to contented hand holding. Storytelling and singing onstage create a happiness that can only be matched by wandering. TimmColeman.com for more! Working with good people makes it better! Bravo, Atlas!
Ken Coughlin
Burgundy; Mortimer; First Neighbor
Ken Coughlin is an award winning actor with more than 100 stage productions to his credit. He was most recently seen as Ken in The Next Audition, an original play which he both wrote and directed. Other recent roles include Harry Knight in Billy, Tony Numbers in My Mother’s Bookie, Charles Deed in Ananta, A Tale Of Two Brothers and Professor Walter Knight (adjunct) in What Do We Do About Walter. Almost immediately following this production he will be preforming as Todd in ¡POOF! At American Theatre of Actors. “Thanks and love to my wonderful wife of 30 years, for understanding and supporting the madness that is theater.”
Keara Dooley
Eleanor; Winchester's Servant
Keara Dooley is a classically trained actor based in NYC. A Seattleite by birth, Keara studied acting at USC and in London, where she received her Master's in Classical Acting from LAMDA. She is delighted to be a part of Atlas' inaugural production with this brilliant cast. When not on stage, Keara can be found reading very old books, creating D&D characters, or plotting out fantasy novels. Learn more at: kearadooley.com; @kearadools
Gabe Girson*
Alençon; Buckingham
Gabe Girson is an actor, director, and tap dancer based in Brooklyn. Other theatre credits include productions with Arachne Theatre, Epic Players, Theatre 315, American Theatre of Actors, 92NY Theatre for Young Audiences, and Theatre for the New City. He also regularly performs in cabarets, tap dance jams, and independent film. He is currently developing a tap dancing clown persona and a tap dance infused production of Twelfth Night! Outside being creative, he enjoys chess, earl grey tea, and taking long walks in Prospect Park. gabegirson.com
Clayton Hamburg
Warwick
Clayton is honored to make his New York theatrical debut with Atlas Shakespeare Company's groundbreaking Henry VI, Parts 1 & 2, in the role of the Earl of Warwick. A multidisciplinary artist and creative professional, Clayton works as an independent personal trainer, bassist for an Irish rock band, and interactive theatrical performer and poet. He also serves as the Entertainment Director for the New York Renaissance Faire, where he is proud to help shape one of the region’s most dynamic and immersive live performance experiences.
Seth Hatch
Somerset
Seth Hatch (He/They) is very excited to be a part of this fantastic company. Their select credits include Witch with Winnipesaukee Playhouse, Romeo & Juliet with Siren Song Shakespeare Company, and The Cherry Orchard with Callahan Theatre. As always, he encourages everyone to support young artists, support queer art, and to engage with new works. Happy Pride!
Alexander Nero
Gloucester
Educator and actor Alexander Nero, Atlas Shakespeare Company's co-founder and executive director, has performed in the works of many classic playwrights. His lengthy roster of notable Shakespearian rôles includes Don Pedro in Much Ado About Nothing, Buckingham in Richard III, Gonzalo in the The Tempest, Worcester in Henry IV, Part 1, Pompey in Measure for Measure, and Touchstone in As You Like It. Alexander holds a B.A. in Classical Studies from Hunter College, and an M.L.S. from Queens College. He is a certified public librarian in the State of New York.
Larry Reina
Winchester
Larry Reina is grateful for the opportunity to be appearing in Atlas Shakespeare’s inaugural production. Select roles NYC: Fool for Love (Old Man) (Arts On Site); The Pause (NY Theater Festival); Richard III (Buckingham), King Lear (title role), Hamlet (Claudius), Three Sisters (Tuzenbakh), Twelfth Night (Malvolio) (Red Monkey Theater). Regional: The Humans (Elmwood Playhouse, Nyack); Sherlock Holmes: The Final Problem (Moriarty) (Red Monkey, M&M Productions); Parade (White Plains Performing Arts Centre); Midsummer Night’s Queen (Lawn Chair Theatre, Westchester Co.); Blithe Spirit (M&M Productions); Laramie Project (Clocktower, Irvington). More info: https://www.backstage.com/u/LarryReina/
Leah Schwartz*
Joan of Arc; Neighbor #2; Fight Captain
Leah Schwartz is a Brooklyn-based actor and stage combat artist. She is thrilled to be working with Atlas Shakespeare for their inaugural production! Theatre credits include Romeo & Juliet (Romeo), As You Like It (Rosalind), and Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson- Apt. 2B (Sherlock Holmes). Graduate of Marymount Manhattan College, BFA Acting. Leah is deeply grateful to the whole Henry VI team for their incredible work and to her loved ones for their never-ending support. leah-schwartz.com
Thomas Shuman*
Charles; Jailer
Thomas Shuman is a Brooklyn-based actor proud to add Henry VI and Atlas to the list of Shakespeare plays and companies he's worked on. Trained at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, he's found success playing the worst kinds of people in shows like Conor McPherson's The Night Alive and Trigorin in The Seagull. He'd like to thank the good people at Atlas for trusting him with the farcical French court and hopes you enjoy the show!
William Oliver Watkins*
York
Recent Stage Work: In New York: Hamlet (Public), R+J, The Three Musketeers (TAC), The Right One (New Ambassadors), Snakeskin Suit (EST); Merchant of Venice and Merry Wives of Windsor (HipToHip); Regional: The Lehman Trilogy and Sweat (Capital Rep). One Night in Miami, Jackie & Me, As You Like It, Ruined (Denver Center), Perseverance (Portland Stage), (Othello, Twelfth Night (Cincinnati Shakespeare), Lombardi & Great Expectations (Cleveland Playhouse). Film/TV): 40-Year Old Version (Sundance Award Winner); “End Game”; “Blindspot”; “The Blacklist: Redemption”; “Madam Secretary”; “Nurse Jackie”; “Law & Order; “Law & Order: SVU”; “Rescue Me”; “NY 22”; “Canterbury's Law”. Will is originally from Cincinnati, OH.
Creative Team
Adriana Alter
Director
Adriana Alter is the co-founder and artistic director of Atlas Shakespeare Company. Her extensive theatrical credits include work with Two Good Dogs Productions, the Secret Theatre, Hip to Hip Theatre Company, the Riant Theatre, Chelsea Rep/The Acting Studio, Identity Theater Company/Nicu’s Spoon Theater Company, Royal Family Productions, and Hartford Stage, among others. Adriana holds advanced degrees in Medieval and Renaissance Studies (Columbia University) and Shakespeare Studies (King’s College London, in association with the Globe Theatre).
Nancy Nichols
Costume Designer
Daughter and granddaughter of exceptional dressmakers,
Nancy came naturally to a fascination with fashion history. In NYC she’s designed costumes for
over 20 Shakespeare plays with Hip-to-Hip Theatre Company’s Shakespeare in the Parks
summer tours since 2008. Other NY credits include costuming American Bard Theater’s
Visionary Voices, an evening of Susan Glaspell’s plays; and, in collaboration with the Neville
Bean Design Studio, design and construction for productions of The Straw, Frankenstein, and
Richard III for Salamander Rep, and Freudian Slips for NYC's Abingdon Theatre.
Ken Coughlin
Sound & Lighting Designer
Ben Hirschfield
Scenic Designer
Ben Hirschfield is a New York based Theatrical Scenic and Video Designer. Recent designs include City Springs Theatre Company’s Footloose, UNC Charlotte’s Measure for Measure, and UNC School of the Arts’ Enron. As an assistant designer, Ben has contributed to Harry Potter - A Hogwarts Express Adventure, The North American Tour of Hadestown, Goodspeed Musicals’ A Christmas Story, and The Rosenberg Strange Fruit Project. UNCSA Alumni. benhirschfielddesign.com. @ben_hirschfield.
Joel Leffert
Fight Choreographer
Joshua Coslar
Armorer
Joshua Coslar is a lifelong martial artist and traditionally trained craftsperson from Newark, NJ. A published author, collected bladesmith and leatherworker, recognized expert in American folk wrestling and a certified personal trainer, Josh has a passion for teaching both theatrical movement and technical craft skills. Josh served his leatherworking apprenticeship and journeymanship at Hawk Studios in Philmont, New York, his bladesmithing apprenticeship at Starfire Swords in Spencer, New York, and his bladesmithing journeymanship at Lundegaard armory in Monroe, New York. He currently serves as an assistant instructor, armorer, and historical consultant at Arte Violenta in New York, New York.
Isabel Bennett
Intimacy Coordinator
Isabel Bennett is a Seattle-based actress and intimacy coordinator. Her previous work includes Intimacy Coordination for Donkey Dust (Sound Defiance Films) and Life After You (Mirror Room Media), and Assistant Intimacy Direction for Born With Teeth at ArtsWest in Seattle, WA. She is passionate about creating work that is performer-informed, trauma-aware, and supports collaborative storytelling rooted in consent and creative clarity.
Lee Monahan
Stage Manager
Lee (he/him/his) is a theatre maker with a focus in stage management, based in Queens. He started working freelance in 2018, has recently graduated from LaGuardia Community College, and is currently continuing his theatrical education at Brooklyn College as a BFA in Production and Design.
Gabriel González
Assistant Stage Manager
Gabriel González is an assistant stage manager and rising Senior at Hunter College. He has previously served as an assistant-to production manager, stage manager and assistant stage manager for student productions at his college.
Mercedes Wilby
Board Operator
Mercedes Wilby is thrilled to be joining such a talented team! Outside of the theater, she is an adjunct professor and PhD candidate in political science.
SUBMIT UPDATES
Factory Series at the Chain Theatre Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
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Factory Series at the Chain Theatre is at 312 West 36th Street, New York City, NY.
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