"Ghost Whisperer" Star David Conrad is Henry V at Shakespeare Theatre of NJ
By Kenneth Jones
16 Apr 2007
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's 2007 season will launch May 1 with the patriotic Shakespeare classic, Henry V, directed by artistic director Bonnie J. Monte and featuring David Conrad in the title role.
The 45th season opener will continue to May 27 in the theatre's Main Stage — the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre in Madison, NJ.
Conrad previously appeared at The Shakespeare Theatre in the
2006 production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead and Richard II in 2004. He plays Jennifer Love Hewitt's husband on the CBS-TV hit series "Ghost Whisperer."
Henry V is thought by some to be the first play ever presented on the "wooden O" at London's original Globe Theatre. It follows "the ascent of a charismatic and powerful leader who guides his nation to unity," according to The Shakespeare Theatre. "The young, newly-crowned King Henry leads his troops against the much larger but unified army of France despite overwhelming odds. At the Battle of Agincourt, he rallies his troops and, with the help of the weather and a brilliant military strategy, the British defeat the French in a spectacular victory and King Henry V cements his place in history."
Henry V begins a journey for Shakespeare Theatre audiences through a 60-year epic cycle that is continued later in the season with Blood & Roses: Shakespeare's Henry
VI, adapted by Brian B. Crowe, a production of Henry
VI, Parts 1, 2 and 3, condensed into one evening, beginning where Henry V ends — with the death of King Henry V.
Jack Wetherall takes on the role of Chorus, whose famous lines "Oh for a muse of fire, that would ascend the brightest heaven of invention…" begins the play. Wetherall, making his Shakespeare Theatre debut, is known to television fans as Uncle Vic on the Showtime series "Queer as Folk." Later this season, he will direct The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey production of Measure for Measure, July 10-29.
Also featured in the cast is Kate Baldwin (Broadway's Thoroughly Modern Millie, Wonderful Town and the Walter Bobbie-directed White Christmas) as Princess Katherine — King Henry's future French bride.
Returning to The Shakespeare Theatre are Ames Adamson as Captain Fluellen/Bishop of Ely; Richard Bourg as the Duke of Burgundy; Chantal Jean-Pierre as Alice; Darren Matthias as Nym; Ian Stuart as the King of France; Raphael Nash Thompson; and Scott Whitehurst as the Constable of France.
Making his Shakespeare Theatre debut is Brent Langdon as Pistol.
Rounding out the cast are Salvatore Cacciato, Josh Carpenter, Anthony De Luca, John Patrick Doherty, Seamus Mulcahy, Philip Mutz, Garth McCardle, Scott McIntosh, Sean Tarrant and Christopher Thornton.
The Henry V creative team includes set designer Michael Schweikardt, lighting designer Steve Rosen, costume
designer Dane Laffrey and dialect coach Stephen Gabis.
For more information, visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org.
Contact Us | Advertise | Privacy Policy
Send questions and comments to the Webmaster
Copyright © 2008 Playbill, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
|