ENCORES: ‘1 Henry IV’ performed by Folger Theatre (2019)

Folger Public Programs is pleased to present ENCORES, a weekly online series highlighting past performances and recalling the rich history of programming on the historic Folger stage. As many arts and cultural institutions remain closed during this time, these ENCORES provide a way to connect and revisit the breadth of Folger offerings with a wider audience.

ENCORES presents

Folger Theatre
1 Henry IV by William Shakespeare
Directed by Rosa Joshi***, Folger Theatre, 2019
Read the director’s notes for the production

Performed by

• Peter Crook*, King Henry IV
• Maboud Ebrahimzadeh*, Blunt/Mortimer
• Tyler Fauntleroy*, Hotspur
• Edward Gero*, Falstaff
• Naomi Jacobson*, Worcester
• Jordan Lee, Lady Mortimer
• Maribel Martinez*, Lady Percy
• Alex Michell, Prince John/Gadshill
• Sam Midwood, Peto & Douglas
• Kate Eastwood Norris*, Mistress Quickly/Vernon
• Todd Scofield*, Westmoreland/Bardolph
• Jazmine Stewart, Poins
• U. Jonathan Toppo*, Northumberland/Glendower
• Avery Whitted*, Prince Hal

With

• Scenic Design by Sarah Ryung Clement**
• Costume Design by Kathleen Geldard**
• Lighting Design by Jesse Belsky**
• Original Music and Sound Design by Palmer Hefferen
• Movement Director and Choreographer, Alice Gosti
• Fight Choreography, U. Jonathan Toppo*
• Production Stage Manager, Kate Kilbane*
• Assistant Stage Manager, Juliet Jewett*
• Casting by Eisenberg/Beans Casting and Manna-Symone Middlebrooks
• Resident Dramaturg, Michele Osherow

*Actors’ Equity Association
**United Scenic Artists
***Stage Directors and Choreographers Society

For more, explore related posts on The Folger Spotlight. The resource guide for April’s virtual book club session on A Bright Ray of Darkness contains additional material on the Henry IV plays.

Read the introduction by director Rosa Joshi:

Hello and welcome to Folger ENCORES. I’m Rosa Joshi and I’m so happy to be able to speak with you right now. The Folger has been sharing selections from their plays, music, talks, and readings with you in this ENCORES series, and this week we’re revisiting the Folger Theatre production of Henry IV, Part One by William Shakespeare that I had the honor and the pleasure to direct.

To catch you up on where we are in the play, before the sequence that you’re about to see: what’s happened is a dispute between two factions in England begins when Hotspur, his father, and, in the case of our production, his aunt—because, you know, we like to mix it up—they plot to seize the throne from King Henry IV. Meanwhile, Prince Hal, Henry IV’s estranged son and heir, has been spending his time carousing in the taverns of London, basically being a bad boy. As the conflict develops, Hal is summoned to the war by his father, where he will have to prove himself in order to redeem his bad reputation.

What you’re about to see is a section of the production that we fondly referred to in the rehearsal as “the Faceoff,” and hopefully you’ll see why when you watch it. It’s a pretty intricately choreographed battle scene that incorporates both dance and fight that was created through the brilliant collaboration between movement director Alice Gosti and fight choreographer John Toppo. This scene incorporates the whole cast of Henry IV but I wanted to point out, especially, Tyler Fauntleroy as Hotspur, an Avery Whitted as Hal. And to note also Sarah Clement’s slick set, Jesse Belsky’s brilliant lights, and rockin’ original music and sound from Palmer Hefferan. All of those design elements come together to make this scene quite so memorable.

Directing for the Folger was one of the most amazing experiences that I’ve ever had. We’re really pleased to be able to share this production with you again, and I hope that you will continue to join us for these weekly episodes of ENCORES, highlighting all that the Folger has to offer. Thank you.

Check back each Friday for a new “from the archives” performance, introduced by some of our favorite artists, showcasing the best of Folger Theatre, Folger Consort, O.B. Hardison Poetry, and lectures.