Seventh year of series starts Aug. 3
HVSF2, a series of readings of new plays by new and returning company members of the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, now in its seventh year, begins on Aug. 3 at the Philipstown Depot Theatre in Garrison. Tickets are $20 at brownpapertickets.com, and each performance begins at 7:30 p.m. The line-up:
Wednesday, Aug. 3: Teenage Dick. Vaguely adapted from Richard III, this play written by Mike Lew and directed by Moritz von Stuelpnagel reimagines Shakespeare’s most famous disabled character as a high school student with cerebral palsy seeking the highest office in the land — Senior Class President. With Gregg Mozgala, Shannon Devido, Nance Williamson, Joe Tippet, Stacey Yen and Tiffany Villarin.
Friday, Aug. 5: Book of Will. Written by Lauren Gunderson and directed by HVSF Artistic Director Davis McCallum, this play imagines the adventures of an unlikely group of supporting players as they struggle to publish the 1623 First Folio of Shakespeare’s works. With Kurt Rhoads, Julia Coffey, Michael Crane, Annie Purcell, Reggie White, Tim Liu and Wesley Mann.
Tuesday, Aug. 9: Pride & Prejudice, by Kate Hamill. Directed by Eric Tucker, this adaptation of the tempestuous romance features returning Katie Hartke as the bold Lizzy Bennet and Michael Braun as the dashing Mr. Darcy. (Hamill’s adaptation of Sense & Sensibility is currently on an extended run Off-Broadway.) With Maggie MacDowell, Joey Parsons, Nance Williamson, David Barlow, Ryan Quinn and Gabra Zackman.
Thursday, Aug. 11: Our Town Community Bake-Off: An Evening of Short Plays. With eight short works from Hudson Valley writers, this performance is directed by HSVS Drama League fellow Noa Egozi and features Greg Miller, Barzin Akhavan, Mike Borelli, Thaddeus Fitzpatrick, Kristin Villanueva and Antoinette Robinson.