F&M Stories
Green Room Shakespeare Play Links Past and Present
Thespians of all stripes will delight in an upcoming Shakespeare performance taking place at Franklin & Marshall College鈥檚 historic Green Room Theatre. Lancaster Shakespeare Theatre presents 鈥淗enry IV, Part 1,鈥� from May 22 to 31. .
The production is directed by F&M鈥檚 very own Justin Hopkins 鈥�07, writing center director and senior teaching professor of English.
While contemporary in nature, the play will offer a historic chance to witness one of the last Green Room performances before it undergoes an exciting transformation. The theatre will soon be rededicated as the James Lapine Theater, a tribute to one of F&M鈥檚 most decorated and accomplished performing arts graduates.
The restoration and renaming of the theater is made possible, in part, by an anonymous $1 million gift to support a significant renovation of the existing performance space and provide programmatic support for theatre and dance performances and events.
Riotously funny and exquisitely stirring, 鈥淗enry IV, Part 1鈥� explores honor, loyalty, and the path from youthful indiscretion to royal power. An exclusive May 30 reading of Shakespeare鈥檚 鈥淩ichard II鈥� will give a rare opportunity for audiences to attend both plays, acted by the same company, on the same day.
The production will appeal to bardolaters and newer audiences alike. 鈥淥ur production is very contemporary both in setting and in the delivery of the verse,鈥� Hopkins said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 modern dress for the most part, although we do have some Renaissance gestures, hints, costume pieces, and props.鈥�
鈥淓ven if the vocabulary and the references seem unfamiliar, the actors make them so funny and so relevant,鈥� he added.
The production also features alumni Greg Davies 鈥�07, Vienna Greenlee-Brown 鈥�26, and Jacob Sikorski, F&M lighting and scenic design artist and adjunct instructor.
This isn鈥檛 the first time these popular plays were performed in the Green Room. A Nov. 1971 production starred late big-screen actor Treat Williams 鈥�73 as Prince Hal and was directed by beloved late professor Ed Brubaker 鈥�49.
Lancaster Shakespeare Theatre presents 鈥淗enry IV, Part 1,鈥� from May 22 to 31 at F&M's Green Room Theatre. Art by Joanna Becker.
An exclusive May 30 reading of Shakespeare鈥檚 鈥淩ichard II鈥� will give a rare opportunity for audiences to attend both plays, acted by the same company, on the same day. Art by Joanna Becker.
Both productions are directed by F&M's very own Justin Hopkins 鈥�07, writing center director and senior teaching professor of English (right).
鈥淥ur production is very contemporary both in setting and in the delivery of the verse,鈥� Hopkins said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 modern dress for the most part, although we do have some Renaissance gestures, hints, costume pieces, and props,鈥� he added.
Lancaster: An Integral Educational Partner
Diplomats don鈥檛 simply live in Lancaster 鈥� we are intricately woven into the fabric of our city. We value collaborations with local organizations like Lancaster Shakespeare Theatre, which provide vital opportunities for our students and community to gather, learn, and engage.
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