Encore Michigan

Pigeon Creek kicks off Henry V June 16

NewsShakespeare June 03, 2017 Encore Staff

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.–The Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company will perform Shakespeare’s Henry V at the Dog Story Theater, 7 Jefferson SE in Grand Rapids for two weekends in June. This production is part of a larger project in which Pigeon Creek is producing Shakespeare’s English history plays over the course of several seasons.

Henry V is an action-filled story which follows the famous English king as he leads his rag-tag army against the heavily favored French, ultimately confronting his enemies at the famous battle of Agincourt. Actors’ Equity Association actor Paul Riopelle returns to play King

Henry, after having portrayed Prince Hal in last year’s Henry IV, which tells the story of the same character before he takes the throne. The cast also features actors Alyssa Banister, Mike Dodge, Ryan Farrell, Josh Fremer, Amanda Grah, Michael Hays, Kat Hermes, Bridget McCarthy, Ashley

Normand, Steven Schwall, and Scott Wright. Riopelle is a company member at the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, but has visited West Michigan several times to work as a guest artist with both the Grand Valley Shakespeare Festival and Pigeon Creek. About his work with Pigeon Creek, he says “Having performed with nearly a dozen classical theatres over the years, I’ve worked with actors who are very gifted, but lazy and constantly phoning it in. I’ve also worked with very dedicated actors who work their hearts out, but simply don’t have the chops to tell the story well. The actors and directors at Pigeon Creek are the rare exception of talent and commitment combined.”

The production is directed by Angela and Francis Boyle, visiting directors who are also from the Cincinnati area, who previously directed the production of Richard II which kicked off Pigeon Creek’s tour of Shakespeare’s histories. Henry V will play at the Dog Story Theater June 16, 17, 23, and 24 at 8:00 p.m. and June 18 and 25 at 3:00 p.m.. Tickets are $14 for adults, and $8 for students and seniors. Tickets are available at www.dogstorytheater.com.

There will be a preview performance on June 15 at 8:00 p.m.. Tickets to this preview performance are $5 for all patrons. Tickets for the preview are available at the door only, on a first-come, first-serve basis.

For more information about the Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company, please visit the company’s website at www.pcshakespeare.com.