Michael Cumpsty (of Broadway's Enchanted April, Copenhagen, Democracy, and 42nd Street) stars as the royal who "wasted time" in the 1597 play. Part of the great "Henrys" cycle by the bard, the historical tragedy addresses issues of absolute power, and is rich with poetry. Performances play to Oct. 15. This marks the third Shakespearean collaboration between Cumpsty and director Brian Kulick, CSC's artistic director, after Timon of Athens for The Public Theater and CSC's Hamlet, for which Cumpsty received an Obie Award for his title performance.

The Richard II cast includes Jon DeVries as John of Gaunt, George Morfogen as the Duke of York, Graham Winton as Bolingbroke, Doan Ly as Queen Isabelle, David Greenspan as Bagit/Bishop, Jesse Pennington as Aumerle, Craig Baldwin as Northumberland, Ellen Parker as Duchess of York, and Bernarda De Paula as Bushy.

At Left (From Top): Michael Cumpsty and director Brian Kulick; Graham Winton and Doan Ly; David Greenspan and George Morfogen.

Below: The cast of Richard II takes their bows.

photos by Aubrey Reuben