Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre’s Classical Acting Academy Presents HENRY V 8/4

The Classical Acting Academy, a program of The Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre, offers Henry V by William Shakespeare directed by Aaron Cromie. This production is Aaron Cromie's Shakespeare directorial debut. The production features a talented company of early-career actors and production staff.

Henry V runs August 4 - August 15, 2010. Two Weeks Only - Limited Run! Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 7 PM with Sunday 2 PM matinees. Tickets are FREE on a first come, first served basis, available at the Box Office three hours before curtain each day. All performances are at our intimate 122-seat theatre at 2111 Sansom Street. For more information please call the Box Office at 215-496-8001 or visit us on the web at phillyshakespeare.org.
Reviewing members of the press are invited to attend Opening Night of Henry V on Wednesday, August 4th, 2010 at 7 PM. Please call John Van Heest at 215-496-9722 for reservations.
About directing Henry V, Aaron Cromie remarks, "When I was invited to direct the show by Carmen Khan, I wanted to take full advantage of the youthful energy of the cast, and place it in an age-appropriate setting, giving the actors a chance to discover the famed history of Henry V along with the audience during a 'final exam' of a private prep school. The classroom setting provides endless creativity in shifting location, character and tracking the evolution of Henry's campaign at Agincourt."

Cromie's Henry V gives us a new interpretation of this coming-of-age story through the political intrigue of this historic figure. Watch and enjoy as our exuberant take on this classic history play sheds new light on the perils, pleasures and pains of fulfilling one's destiny.

Henry V is one of Shakespeare's most famous history plays. It is based on the life of King Henry V of England and centers around events before and after the battle of Agincourt in 1415, during the 100 Years War.

Henry V is the kingly sequel to Shakespeare's Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2 where we meet Prince Henry (Hal) as a young and undisciplined man, frequenting bars and thieving with the charming, but dissolute, Falstaff. If you saw last summer's Classical Acting Academy's production of Henry IV, Part 1 at The Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre, you will enjoy the continuation of Hal's story. The once undisciplined Prince has transformed into an ambitious and charismatic King who has inherited a troubled throne but sets out to conquer France and briefly unites it with England.

About the Classical Acting Academy

The Classical Acting Academy (CAA) was inaugurated on our stage in 2009 to serve professional actors who want an immersion experience in classical acting techniques and performance. Over a period of six weeks, actors work with a seasoned director, text and acting coaches and a combat director in a professional setting, allowing them the unique opportunity to be with professionals working in the field. The CAA is a conduit to our mainstage and a number of graduates perform in mainstage productions.

About the Director
Aaron Cromie is a Barrymore Award winning Philadelphia-based director, performer, and mask and puppet designer (2004 Barrymore Award for Outstanding Choreography and Movement for The Comedy of Errors and the 2007 Barrymore Award for Music Direction of The Fantasticks). He recently directed his own adaptation of Carlo Gozzi's 1764 tragicomic fable, The Blue Monster for the University of the Arts, The Long Christmas Ride Home for Azuka Theatre (2009) and Molière's Scapin for Lantern Theater Company (2009/10). He will be the Assistant Director of The Comedy of Errors this coming season at The Folger Shakespeare Theatre in Washington DC.

Cromie has performed at the Folger Theatre (The Second Shepherds Play), for the Lantern (All's Well that Ends Well, The Comedy of Errors, which received four Barrymore nominations including two wins), and The Arden Theatre (A Midsummer Night's Dream). Cromie has acted in a number of Philadelphia-based performances including Through the Looking Glass and Travels with My Aunt at the Lantern (2004 Barrymore nomination for Outstanding Leading Actor), among many others.
He has designed puppets and masks for the Folger's productions of The Two Gentleman of Verona and Measure for Measure and designed two shows for The Shakespeare Theatre Company of Washington DC (Hamlet, Ion). He is a graduate of the Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre. He teaches at the University of the Arts and Headlong Performance Institute.

About The Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre
The Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre was founded in 1989 as The Red Heel Theatre, initially focusing on classic works of English theatre. In 1993, Carmen Khan became the Artistic Director of Red Heel and in 1996 focused the company's efforts on the works of Shakespeare. Since 2009, The Theatre has added several new programs for adults and students including The Connoisseur Shakespeare Seminar Series featuring renowned Shakespeare Scholars, The Classical Cabaret, a 2008 Barrymore nominated school outreach program called the Open Door Project, Discussion Forums, and a Classical Acting Academy providing early career actors with intense classical training, culminating in a free summer Shakespeare play for the public. The Theatre has performed 35 productions since 1996.

The mission of The Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre is to produce the most excellent Shakespeare productions and education programming, accessible to all.

Tickets and season Bard Cards are currently on sale ($140, $100, $70). Bard Cards are available for performances only. All performances will be held in the intimate 122-seat theatre at 2111 Sansom Street. For ticket sales and information please call the box office at 215-496-8001 or purchase and print your tickets on the web at phillyshakespeare.org.

This season, The Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre will feature mainstage productions of Hamlet and As You Like It running in repertory March 18 - May 15, 2011. More information may be found at phillyshakespeare.org.

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