Henry VIII is History!

Directed by Alaina Pascarella
October 2018

“This Henry VIII is a multiangled love story with pertinent political reverberations layered in. The love, though, is not just textual; it’s a love story between director and play, between a community and the theater, and between a company of actors and Shakespeare. Henry VIII in Davenport, Iowa; that’s as it should be.”

Eric Minton, Shakespeariences

“…impromptu moments of live theatre that will be hard to repeat or forget… the Prenzie Players’ cast was all-around skilled and committed, featuring some truly remarkable women. Taken overall, Henry VIII: All Is True was a satisfying night of history come to life.”

Madeline Dudziak, River Cities’ Reader

“Admirably portrayed. The standout… is Kitty Israel as Queen Katherine, whose regal bearing imbues a royal dignity when treading the tightrope of challenging King Henry…, a righteous fury at her mistreatment, and her ultimate humiliation when Anne is elevated to queen in her place.”

Chris Hicks, Dispatch-Argus

Henry VIII flanked by his queens
Photo Credit: Mattie Gelaude

With an aging wife and no male heir, Henry VIII becomes consumed with doubt about his marriage and the future of the Tudor dynasty. What happens next would change England and the world forever. One of history’s most well-known love triangles, William Shakespeare’s Henry VIII is a story of love, lust, and political ambition.

Cardinal Wolsey
Photo Credit: Mattie Gelaude
Anne Boleyn and Henry
Photo Credit: Mattie Gelaude

Prenzie Players were pleased to welcome Eric Minton, the proprietor of Shakespeareances.com, to the show as part of his plan to see all the plays in the Shakespearean canon over the course of one year. See Jonathan Turner’s Dispatch-Argus article about this project: “D.C. man in Q-C on mission to see Shakespeare plays across U.S.”

The Crown
Photo Credit: Mattie Gelaude
Henry and Anne dance with Katharine in the background
Photo Credit: Mattie Gelaude
Program

Henry VIII program

The Cast

Kate Farence
Sir Thomas Cromwell
Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury

Joe Sager
Duke of Buckingham
Earl of Surrey, his son-in-law

Mischa Hooker
Lord Chamberlain
Griffith, Queen Katharine’s gentleman usher

John Wright
Duke of Norfolk

Michael Carron
Cardinal Wolsey

Kitty Israel
Queen Katharine

Andrew Bruning
Duke of Suffolk

Payton Brasher
King Henry VIII

Collin Jost
Sir Thomas Lovell
Cardinal Campeius

Angela Rathman
Buckingham’s Surveyor
Patience, Queen Katharine’s waiting woman
Duchess of Norfolk

Anna M. Schneider
Anne Boleyn

Liz Sager
Mary Boleyn

The Crew

Director: Alaina Pascarella
Stage Manager: Chris Sanders-Ring
Set Design: Alaina Pascarella
Set Construction: Matt Moody and THE CAST
Set Painting: Andrew Bruning, Kate Farence, Alaina Pascarella, and Collin Jost
Props: Alaina Pascarella
Costume Design: Kate Farence, Alaina Pascarella, and THE CAST
Sound Design: Justin Hager
Lighting Design: Elizabeth Hager
Sound and Light Board Operator: Devin Ring
Box Office and Front of House: Jeremy Mahr
Photography: Mattie Gelaude
Marketing Team: Mischa Hooker, Nathan Klaus (Graphic Design), & Denise Yoder
Artistic Director: Catherine Bodenbender

Special Thanks

Playcrafter’s Barn Theatre
Phil Cathoir
Elizabeth Sager “for schlepping me around”
Quad Cities Theatre Workshop