Henry V

After a season-long hiatus from The Bard, Classical Theatre Company brings Shakespeare to life on its stage once more with Henry V, playing October 14 – November 1, 2015.

“We are thrilled to be producing Shakespeare again. We’re a company whose mission is to produce the classics, and Shakespeare is the granddaddy of all classical drama,” says CTC Executive Artistic Director John Johnston. “We are partnering with the University of Houston School of Theatre and Dance on this production, and will be using several of their outstanding undergraduate students in our cast.”

As one of Shakespeare’s finest “history plays”, Henry V centers on the events leading up to, and following, the famous Battle of Agincourt in the 100 Years War. This English victory saw King Henry’s forces take on, and defeat, a vastly superior French army. This remarkable feat lives on in the annals of military history, and will be celebrating its 600th anniversary during the run of CTC’s production on October 25, 2015.

Among other gender bending casting choices, CTC’s production will star female actor Bree Welch in the title role of King Henry. “We are never one to just run Shakespeare out there in doublet and hose. We strive to examine these great classic plays in new and relevant ways,” says Johnston, “I find it particularly interesting to explore gender in this manliest of all plays. Though this production has not been cast with strict gender reversal, it was cast in a ‘gender blind’ process. I’m thrilled to see what new facets can be discovered through this process.”

“This is a play that makes commentary on a wide variety of topics, not the least of which is the horrors of war,” says CTC Executive Artistic Director John Johnston. “Unfortunately, there never seems to be a shortage of warfare to examine, so this play is ever relevant.”

Featuring Bree Welch as Henry and David Wald as Chorus and Alice.  The Ensemble includes Andrew Love, Christina Keefe, Lyndsay Sweeney, Tom Long, Shunte Lofton, Zac Kelty, Lindsay Ehrhardt, and Courtney Lomelo.

Directed by Julia Traber, with Scenic Design by Liz Freese, Costume Design by Macy Perrone, Lighting Design by Dustin Tannahill, and Sound Design by Jon Harvey.