Henry VI: Parts 1 & 2

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About the Company

We founded Atlas Shakespeare Company in a spirit of exploration and discovery, with the mission of transporting our audiences to brave new worlds by presenting vivid, inclusive productions that present Shakespeare’s plays as they were intended to be experienced: fast-paced, character-driven, intensely relatable dramas that explore universal themes. We are delighted that you have joined us for our inaugural production!​​

Director's Note

The Henry VI plays constitute Shakespeare’s earliest surviving work—and, as such, they have all the missteps that you might expect from a first-time writer, including logistical impracticalities, tonal inconsistencies, and rambling narrative digressions! During the course of the adaptation process, I smoothed out these issues where possible...but to have “fixed” them altogether would have been to destroy much of what gives the plays their charmingly idiosyncratic nature, and to deny you the chance to understand Shakespeare’s trajectory as a writer. As a result, you are about to experience some of Shakespeare’s most biting comedy, most beautiful language, and most vibrant characters—alongside any number of moments that absolutely defy theatrical convention. Enjoy the ride!

— Adriana Alter

Producer's Note

Shakespeare was a product of his time, as are we all, and we cannot much expect him to have anachronistically accepted much of what we take for granted. Who in our day would not find less-than-palatable certain nuances of his portrayals of Jews or Moors? When we consider the young Shakespeare thus, not to mention as an ardent English patriot and a ready devourer of contemporary histories, it is hardly astonishing that he sees & portrays St. Joan of Arc as he does: the military prowess of this teenaged peasant-girl amazed her allies & enemies in her own time as, surely, the tale must amaze us now. In a sense, it is only natural to think of her as supernatural! When, in our play, Alençon calls Talbot a “fiend of Hell”, Reignier raises another possibility, i.e. that “the Heavens, sure, favor him”. Thus it stands with Joan, and to think of her as a saint was to think of her cause as the holy and the English as the evil one; this would, naturally, not do for the English playgoer of the late 16th century!

Joan was burned at the stake, condemned to die for heresy by the machinations of a corrupt ecclesiastical court loyal to English interests; her sentence was overturned by another ecclesiastical court during the lifetime of her parents, but Shakespeare and his countrymen would hardly have known this, nor, indeed, would it likely have affected popular opinion. The cause for her sainthood was not entertained until the 19th century; she was finally canonized by Pope Benedict XV in 1920.

We hope you enjoy our great poet in his full youthful vigor, injurious caricatures and all! (But may this producer also recommend Mark Twain’s wonderful Joan of Arc, a much fairer portrayal, available from Ignatius Press!)

— Alexander Nero

Cast

Creative Team

Special Thanks

Maximillian Nero for print program cover art

Hip to Hip Theatre Company for the loan of costumes

Salamander Repertory Theatre for the loan of costumes

Mikayla Carleo for prop head design

Arzu Kulak for social media marketing

Andrea Alton for publicity

Erika Grunhoff, Lisa Horowitz, and Kristina Nero for box office services

and

Neville Bean Design for costume design and construction assistance

 

Neville Bean is an independent Art Director and Graphic Designer. "I love costume design and constructing things - sewing, pattern-making and prop construction".

nevillebeandesign.com

917-902-2914

Meet the Company

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.

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.

Photos

And now, for fans of Shakespeare's more famous history plays:

York is the son of Cambridge (Henry V); the nephew of Aumerle (Richard II); and the father of Edward, Clarence, and Richard (Richard III).

Warwick is the father of Lady Anne (Richard III). 

Winchester is the illegitimate son of John of Gaunt (Richard II)—and therefore the half-brother of Henry Bolingbroke (Richard II, Henry IV).

You already know a younger version of Mortimer (Henry IV, Part 1)...and an older version of Margaret (Richard III)!

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