Shakespeare in LA

Christine Sage as Henry VI. All photos by Mandi Moss

Attempting to produce all of Shakespeare’s plays would be daunting task for any theatre company but one young group of actors has continued to stay the course. Over a ten-year period, the Porters of Hellsgate have produced twenty of the playwright’s thirty-eight plays, steadily working toward their goal of being the first in Los Angeles to mount the entire canon. This season, they tackle three at once with Henry VI, Parts 1, 2 & 3.

Parts 1 & 2 have been trimmed to a single act each, performed together as one two-and-a-half-hour production. Part 3 has also been edited down to a similar length and is performed in repertory on alternating nights. Each is a stand-alone production so you can see one, or both, or even both in one day, if you like.

In either case, read the plot summaries in the program ahead of time, especially if you aren’t familiar with these plays, or with the Wars of the Roses. And let’s face it. Most of us are not.

If you break it down and divide the Wars into two parts – Henry VI, Parts 1, 2 & 3 and Richard III make up the second half of the story, but Shakespeare wrote this section first. He would later go back and write the first half of the story in Richard II, Henry IV Parts 1 & 2, and Henry V.

In essence, these eight plays deal with the passing of the crown back and forth between the House of York and the House of Lancaster. Both were descendants of Edward III with a legitimate claim to the throne, and therein lies the problem.  More

The Porters of Hellsgate have announced the cast for their upcoming adaptation of Henry VI Parts 1, 2 & 3. The trilogy opens the company’s 10th Anniversary Season, The Year of the King, and is directed by Thomas Bigley and adapted by artistic director Charles Pasternak

Parts 1 & 2 will be presented together in a single, comprehensive play, with each part edited down to a single act beginning April 29. Henry VI Part 3 will preview on May 6 and officially open May 7. The plays will then be performed in rotating rep. If you’d like to see all 3 plays on the same date at a discount, you may purchase tickets for one of their double-show Sundays: May 8 & 29 or June 5 (2pm & 7pm).

The ensemble will feature a large cast of actors playing multiple roles and includes Robert Bedall, Thomas Bigley, Makeda Declet, Sean Faye, Jacques Freydont, David Ghilardi, Will Hickman, Matt Jayson, Gus Krieger, Michael Matthys, Nicholas Neidorf, Jessicah Neufeld, Kate O’Toole, Alex Parker, Timothy Portnoy, Christine Sage, Christopher Salazar, Gray Schierholt, and Liza de Weerd.

Performances will take place at the Whitmore-Lindley Theatre Center, 11006 W Magnolia Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601. Tickets are available at PortersHenryVI.brownpapertickets.com.

Discount Ticket update:
You can see any performance of Henry VI Parts 1 & 2 and get a discount code for Part 3 at the theater. It isn’t limited to just the Double Show Days. If you’re interested in reserving tickets for both shows on Double Show Days ahead of time, please contact Production Manager Kate O’Toole at porterofpress@gmail.com for special instructions.