Press Release | << back

June 26, 2015

Druid Theatre Company Returns To New York With The North American Premiere Of Druidshakespeare: The History Plays

Lincoln Center Festival

PRESS CONTACT

Eileen McMahon 212.875.5391

[email protected]

Press Tickets: David Clarke at [email protected]

 

Additional information, photos, and videos available at aboutlincolncenter.org/press-room. Login or register for access.

 

 

DRUID THEATRE COMPANY RETURNS TO NEW YORK WITH THE NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE OF DRUIDSHAKESPEARE: THE HISTORY PLAYS ADAPTED BY MARK O’ROWE AND DIRECTED BY GARRY HYNES, JULY 7-19 ONLY AT LINCOLN CENTER FESTIVAL

 

Free symposium with Hynes and O’Rowe on July 9 afternoon

 at Fordham University (Lincoln Center campus)

 

New York, NY (June 26, 2015) –  Druid Theatre Company of Galway, Ireland returns for a fourth engagement at Lincoln Center Festival with DruidShakespeare: The History Plays, a new adaptation by Mark O’Rowe based on William Shakespeare’s history plays, Richard II, Henry IV (Pts. 1 & 2), and Henry V. The production is directed by Tony Award- winning director Garry Hynes.

 

The performance runs from July 7–19 only at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College. O’Rowe’s adaptation, heralded as “a lean and propulsive telling” (Irish Times), is presented as a marathon experience, or in two consecutive installments, enacted by the Druid Ensemble, a “remarkable company” of Irish actors (The New York Times).

 

The members of the Druid Ensemble, Marie Mullen, Marty Rea, Aaron Monaghan, Rory Nolan, John Olohan, Aisling O’Sullivan, Garrett Lombard, Clare Barrett, Derbhle Crotty, Gavin Drea, Bosco Hogan, Karen McCartney, and Charlotte McCurry, will play a multitude of characters across the four plays.

 

Garry Hynes and Mark O’Rowe will participate in a free symposium, co-produced by Fordham University and National University of Ireland Galway, on July 9 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Fordham University’s Generoso Pope Memorial Auditorium (Columbus Avenue at 62nd Street).

 

An epic story of families, wars, and the making of nations, DruidShakespeare: The History Plays is an exploration of English history through an Irish lens. As Shakespeare was writing these plays, Ireland was often the subject of expeditionary forces from England sent to quell Irish rebellions or Irish warlords, sometimes successfully and sometimes not. These expeditions crept into his writing and are referred to throughout Richard II, Henry IV (Pts. 1 & 2), and Henry V.

 

Richard II’s story is the loss of innocence. A king since he was a child, when he finds his throne under threat he must consider how a king can become a man and ask himself how such a man can live. Henry IV’s story is the price of arrogance. Having plucked the crown from his cousin’s head, he divides houses, enrages nobility and jeopardizes the loyalty of his own supporters until he has only his family to turn to.

Prince Hal/Henry V’s story is a coming-of-age. He squanders his youth with scoundrels and mistresses, but must face up to his fate as heir to the throne and mend his ways in order to win the hearts and minds of the nobility and unite his country.

 

Shakespeare’s tales of ambition, destruction, responsibility and rebellion are performed with an exceptional cast, live music, thrilling dramatic moments, and a rousing parade of characters including one of Shakespeare’s greatest comic creations, Falstaff.

 

Following the July 14, 2015 performance there will be a discussion featuring Garry Hynes, Mark O’Rowe, and others to be announced, moderated by James Shapiro at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College. This event is free to ticket holders for the July 14 performance. The performance and discussion will be audio-described. Friday, July 17’s performance of Part 2 at 7:00 pm will be audio-described.

 

For tickets, visit: LincolnCenterFestival.org.  Tickets are also available via CenterCharge, 212.721.6500 and at the Festival box office located at Avery Fisher Hall, 65th Street and Broadway.

 

Performance schedule: Tuesday, July 7 at 7:00 pm (Part 1, preview); Wednesday, July 8 at 7:00 pm (Part 2, preview); Thursday, July 9 at 7:00 pm (Part 1, preview); Friday, July 10 at 7:00 pm (Part 2, preview); Saturday, July 11 at 2:00 pm (Marathon, critics performance); Sunday, July 12 at 2:00 pm (Marathon); Tuesday, July 14 at 7:00 pm (Part 1); Wednesday, July 15 at 7:00 pm (Part 2); Thursday, July 16 at 7:00 pm (Part 1); Friday, July 17 at 7:00 pm (Part 2); Saturday, July 18 at 2:00 pm (Marathon); Sunday, July 19 at 2:00 pm (Marathon).

 

Part 1 runs approximately three hours and 30 minutes, with one intermission; Part 2 runs approximately two hours and 45 minutes, with one intermission; and Marathon runs approximately seven hours, with three intermissions.

 

Lincoln Center Festival lead support is provided by American Express.

Major support is provided by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

Co-produced by Lincoln Center Festival, Druid Theatre Company, and NUI Galway.

 

The Lincoln Center Festival 2015 presentation of DruidShakespeare: The History Plays is made possible in part by generous support from the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and Jennie and Richard DeScherer.  Additional support is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

 

***

 

Now in its 20th season, Lincoln Center Festival has received worldwide attention for presenting some of the broadest and most original performing arts programs in Lincoln Center’s history. The Festival has presented nearly 1,371 performances of opera, music, dance, theater, and interdisciplinary forms by internationally acclaimed artists from more than 50 countries. To date, the Festival has commissioned more than 42 new works and offered some 142 world, U.S., and New York premieres. It places particular emphasis on showcasing contemporary artistic viewpoints and multidisciplinary works that challenge the boundaries of traditional performance. LincolnCenterFestival.org

 

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (LCPA) serves three primary roles: presenter of artistic programming, national leader in arts and education and community relations, and manager of the Lincoln Center campus. A presenter of more than 3,000 free and ticketed events, performances, tours, and educational activities annually, LCPA offers 15 series, festivals, and programs including American Songbook, Avery Fisher Artist Program, Great Performers, Lincoln Center Books, Lincoln Center Festival, Lincoln Center Out of Doors, Lincoln Center Vera List Art Project, Midsummer Night Swing, Martin E. Segal Awards, Meet the Artist, Mostly Mozart Festival, and the White Light Festival, as well as the Emmy Award-winning Live From Lincoln Center, which airs nationally on PBS. As manager of the Lincoln Center campus, LCPA provides support and services for the Lincoln Center complex and the 11 resident organizations.  In addition, LCPA led a $1.2 billion campus renovation, completed in October 2012. For more information, visit LincolnCenter.org or AboutLincolnCenter.org.

 

Lincoln Center is committed to providing and improving accessibility for people with disabilities. For information, call the Department of Programs and Services for People with Disabilities at 212.875.5375.

 

Lincoln Center Festival 2015 is also made possible by The Shubert Foundation, Nancy A. Marks, LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust, Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation, Yang Lan, The Harold & Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, The Katzenberger Foundation, Inc., Mitsui & Co. (U.S.A.), Inc., Arts Foundation of North Rhine-Westphalia, Jennie and Richard DeScherer, The Grand Marnier Foundation, Trust for Mutual Understanding, Marubeni America Corporation Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas), Sumitomo Corporation of Americas, Goethe-Institut, Federal Foreign Office of Germany, ITOCHU International Inc., The Joelson Foundation, Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater, Sharp Fund PLD at The New York Community Trust, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, Inc., Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal U.S.A., Inc., Great Performers Circle, Chairman’s Council, and Friends of Lincoln Center.

 

Public support for Festival 2015 is provided the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, New York State Council on the Arts, and National Endowment for the Arts.

 

Endowment support is provided by Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, and Nancy Abeles Marks.

 

MetLife is the National Sponsor of Lincoln Center.

 

United Airlines is a Supporter of Lincoln Center.

 

WABC-TV is a Supporter of Lincoln Center.

 

“Summer at Lincoln Center” is supported by Diet Pepsi

 

Time out New York is a media partner of Summer at Lincoln Center

 

Artist Catering provided by Zabar’s and Zabars.com.

 

INFORMATION AND UPDATES
Visit LincolnCenterFestival.org and sign up for email to receive updates and information.

 

PHONE NUMBERS/CONTACT INFORMATION
CenterCharge: 212.721.6500
Lincoln Center general website: LincolnCenter.org
Lincoln Center Festival page: LincolnCenterFestival.org
Lincoln Center Customer Service: 212.875.5456
Lincoln Center Information Line: 212.875.5766

 

***

Additional information, photos, and videos available at aboutlincolncenter.org/press-room . Login or register for access.

***

 

FOLLOW LINCOLN CENTER ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

Facebook: facebook.com/LincolnCenterNYC

Twitter: twitter.com/lincolncenter

Tumblr: lincolncenter.tumblr.com

 

FOLLOW LINCOLN CENTER FESTIVAL ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook: facebook.com/LCFestival

Twitter: #LCFestival

 

# # #

High Resolution Images Return to Top

Caption: Aisling O Sullivan, Druid Theatre Company; DruidShakespeare
Photo Credit: Matthew Thompson
Size: 3234x2310
DruidShakespeare: The History Plays
Caption: Druid Theatre Company
Photo Credit: © Reg Gordon
Size: 2160x1437
DruidShakespeare: The History Plays
Caption: Marty Rea as Richard II and Gavin Drea Aumerle in DruidShakespeare
Photo Credit: Matthew Thompson
Size: 3307x2362
DruidShakespeare: The History Plays
Caption: Derbhle Crotty as Henry IV in DruidShakespeare
Photo Credit: Matthew Thompson
Size: 3307x2362
DruidShakespeare: The History Plays
Caption: Aisling O'Sullivan as Henry V in DruidShakespeare
Photo Credit: Matthew Thompson
Size: 3307x2362
DruidShakespeare: The History Plays
Caption: Marty Rea as Richard II in DruidShakespeare
Photo Credit: Matthew Thompson
Size: 2362x3307
DruidShakespeare: The History Plays
Caption: Derbhle Crotty as Henry IV and Aisling O'Sullivan as Henry V in DruidShakespeare
Photo Credit: Matthew Thompson
Size: 3307x2362
DruidShakespeare: The History Plays
Caption: Marie Mullen as Northumberland in DruidShakespeare
Photo Credit: Matthew Thompson
Size: 2362x3307
DruidShakespeare: The History Plays
Caption: John Olohan as Mistress Quickly in DruidShakespeare
Photo Credit: Matthew Thompson
Size: 2249x3150
DruidShakespeare: The History Plays
Caption: Aisling O'Sullivan and Gavin Drea in DruidShakespeare
Photo Credit: Matthew Thompson
Size: 3307x2362
DruidShakespeare: The History Plays
Caption: Charlotte McCurry (Blunt), Clare Barrett (Bradolph), Rory Nolan (Falstaff) and Aisling O'Sullivan (Henry V) in DruidShakespeare
Photo Credit: Matthew Thompson
Size: 3307x2362

Powered by Press