August 1 through 17
Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights at 8 p.m.
Ohio Shakespeare Festival, performing for a thirteenth summer at beautiful Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens in Akron, will present William Shakespeare’s most accessible and fascinating history play, “Henry IV, Part One.”
“Henry IV, Part One” will preview on July 31, open Aug. 1, and perform through Aug. 17. Performances are Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights at 8 p.m., with a Greenshow of songs, dances, swordfights and parodies performed by the younger Company members each evening at 7:30. Stan Hywet’s grounds open at 6 p.m. for picnicking.
“Henry IV, Part One” will begin OSF’s new two-year project producing some of Shakespeare’s overlooked, and yet thrilling dramatizations of history. “Henry IV” tells the story of the Plantagenet King (who usurped the throne from his unpopular cousin, Richard II) and his hard-partying, decadent son, Prince Hal, the future Henry V. Company member Andrew Cruse (Hamlet, Romeo) will play both Prince Hal, and later the brand-new King in next season’s production of “Henry V.” Joining Cruse are Company Artistic Director Terry Burgler (Lear, Iago) as Sir John Falstaff, one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comic characters, Joe Pine as Hotspur, and David McNees (Antonio, Tybalt) as Henry IV.
In order to make Shakespeare accessible to all audiences, OSF is offering two evenings with ticketing supported by both the Corbin Foundation and the Akron Community Foundation. “Henry IV” will have a performance free for all students (with ID) on Aug. 7.
Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens is at 714 N. Portage Path in Akron. Tickets are $30 for reserved seating (the first 100 seats in the center, closest to the stage), or $25 for festival (open) seating. Student tickets are $15, and further discounts on adult tickets are available for OSF, WKSU, and Stan Hywet Members. Reservations may be made any time through OSF’s web site at http://www.ohioshakespeare.com, or by calling the box office at 330-673-8761 daily (except Mondays) from noon to 5 p.m.
Tess Burgler
Lady Percy, Greenshow Director
Tess Burgler returns to OSF for her 12th season. Last year’s audiences will remember her from Comedy of Errors (Luciana) and Cymbeline (Imogen). Some other OSF credits include: Juliet, Rosaline, Cordelia, Bianca, the other Bianca, and Witch 2. Tess also writes and directs the Greenshow. By day, she teaches Language Arts at Hudson Montessori Middle School. She loves to share the stage with her husband, Joe Pine, and she haloos his name to the reverberate hills.
Joe Pine
Hotspur, Associate Producer
Joe Pine marks his fifth season with Ohio Shakespeare Festival. Other OSF credits include Bassanio (Merchant of Venice), Tranio (Taming of the Shrew), Edmund (King Lear) and Aviragus (Cymbeline). Joe is also a regular Coach House Theatre company member who was recently seen as Tom in Glass Menagerie and Horace in School for Wives. Much love to the moon of my life Tess.