Richard III
Written by William Shakespeare
Directed by Rinda Frye
Richard III .......... Will Salmons
Margaret/Prince Edward .......... Beth Burrell
Lady Anne/Richard, Duke of York .......... Cara McHugh
Queen Elizabeth .......... Lauren Street
Duchess of York .......... Hannah Pruitt
Duke of Buckingham .......... Jake Hassler
Sir William Catesby .......... Megg Ward
William, Lord Hastings .......... Billy Flood
George, Duke of Clarence/King Edward IV/Lord Mayor/Soldier .......... Patrick Bayne
Earl of Richmond/Pallbearer/Messenger/Citizen/Headsman .......... Jake Beamer
Archbishop of York .......... Spencer Scruggs
Lord Stanley .......... John Wright
Sir Richard Ratcliffe .......... David Galloway
Sir Robert Brakenbury .......... Brandon Satterly
Lord Grey/James Tyrrel/Citizen/Soldier .......... Jacob Bolton
Earl Rivers/Murderer/Soldier .......... Ashley Smith
Sir Thomas Vaughn/Citizen/Soldier .......... James Thompson
Time: Late 15th Century
Setting: England
There will be one 15 minute intermission.
Scenic and Lighting Design – Michael Hottois
Costume Design – Zhanna Goldentul
Sound Design – Tommy Neville
Make-up Design – James Coomer
Stage Manager – Sue Hlavinka
Richard III the play is the second longest of Shakespeare's plays. Shorter only than Hamlet, uncut it runs almost four hours. So, when it's performed on the modern stage, it is often shorn of nearly half its scenes. This production keeps in the most famous scenes: the opening soliloquy, the wooing of Lady Anne, and the death of Clarence. But through judicious cutting within the text, what is left includes many scenes that are often left out, but that provide a stronger context for Richard’s shenanigans. Because the play has some of the strongest and best written women's roles in all of Shakespeare's plays, I've kept most of their scenes which provide a lovely balance for the more masculine scenes of war and mayhem. And I'm always interested in Shakespeare's scenes about the common people as I find they ground our responses to the tragedies of the ruling aristocracy in a larger context. Richard has several of these: a brief scene with the common citizens who talk with foreboding about the future when King Edward dies, and two scenes where Richard persuades the Mayor of London and several citizens that he (Richard) was Hastings' victim and not vice versa, and that Richard and not Edward's young son should be king. And interestingly, these latter scenes also provide a much welcome comic relief.
Richard III is usually portrayed as the icon of consummate evil. Many productions show him as such an obvious and horrendous villain that it's hard to care much about him at all. If we see him solely as an evil monster, there's not much suspense. I've always seen Richard as a comic villain; of course he is selfish and amoral, but he also has a wicked sense of humor. Like Hamlet, he understands the value of theatre and in the play, like the court jester, he plays many parts. He plays the loyal, outraged brother to Clarence, and the wounded, misunderstood lover to win Lady Anne. With his buddy Buckingham, he concocts public shows to convince others that Queen Elizabeth and her family are guilty of Clarence's death, that Richard is a humble, pious saint, and that the whole country should beg him to be king. Finally, he plays the clever politician to convince Elizabeth to help him keep the crown by marrying his niece, her daughter. And what is most amusing for the audience is that Richard, from his first soliloquy, makes them laugh by telling them what outrageous game he's going to play before he plays it, thereby implicating them in his crimes. So the Richard in this production, while he can be very frightening, he's also often very funny. This combination can be quite disturbing because Richard, among a large group of ruthless characters who lust for power, is also often the smartest person in the play, the person least bound by the niceties of conscience or honor.
Patrick Bayne (Clarence, Edward, Mayor), Hebron, KY, is a senior Theatre Arts major. Past productions at UofL include Henchman #1 in The Spy and The Playwright in (Studio Theatre), Bernardine in Measure for Measure, and various roles in The Laramie Project. Past credits elsewhere include King Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar at St. Henry District High School. He also works in the scene shop in the Theatre Arts Department.
Jake Beamer (Richmond, Pallbearer, Messenger, Citizen, Headsman), Louisville, KY, is a second-year MFA student in Performance. He received his BA in Theatre from the University of Kentucky. Past productions at UofL include Esu Elegba in How Orisanmi Chose His Head and Angelo in Measure for Measure. Past credits elsewhere include Father in Disappearances, or The Groom’s Shoes at The Bard’s Town, Dracula in Dracula at the California Theatre Center, Jim Malone in The Christmas Presence at the Woodford County Theatre, and Saturninus in Titus Andronicus at the University of Kentucky. He is also trained in six weapons through the Society of American Fight Directors.
Jacob Bolton (Grey, Tyrrel, Citizen, Soldier, Murderer), Mammoth Cave, KY is a sophomore making his debut performance at UofL. Past credit elsewhere include Adam in The History of America, Abridged, Demetrius in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Buddy in The Weird Sisters, all at Edmonson County High School.
Beth Burrell (Margaret, Prince Edward), Colorado Springs, CO, is a third-year MFA student in Performance. Previous productions at UofL include Seagull in The Spy and the Playwright (Studio Theatre), Djamila in A Perfect Wedding, Mistress Overdone in Measure for Measure, and various roles in The Laramie Project. Past credits elsewhere include Joy in Chasing Ophelia at The Bard’s Town Theatre, Viola in Sizzlin’ Shakespeare for the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival, and Becca in Rabbit Hole at Adams State College. She is also a certified Yoga instructor. This is her thesis performance.
Billy Flood (Hastings), Louisville, KY, is a second-year MFA student in Performance. He received his BFA from Wright State University. Previous productions at UofL include Teflon in The Orphan of Chao, various roles in The Colored Museum, and Ensemble in A/S/L (Studio Theatre). Past credits elsewhere include Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz with the American Family Theatre National Tour, Willy in Dream Play at Columbia University, Soloist in Concert Songs with Ricky Ian Gordon, and Newt Lee in Parade at Wright State University.
David Galloway (Radcliffe), Clinton, SC, is a first-year MFA student in Performance. He earned his BA from Presbyterian College. This is his debut performance at UofL. Past credits elsewhere include various roles in Hairspray! and Sam Weinberg in A Few Good Men, both at the Workshop Theatre, and Egeus in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Sir Thurio in The Two Gentlemen of Verona, both at the South Carolina Shakespeare Company.
Jake Hassler (Buckingham), Louisville, KY, is a freshmen Theatre Arts major. This is his debut performance at UofL. Past credits include Mortimer Brewster in Arsenic and Old Lace, Charlie Brown in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, and Buckley Dunstan in Father of the Bride, all in Oxford, England.
Cara McHugh (Lady Anne, Duke of York), Memphis, TN, is a second-year MFA student in performance. Past productions at UofL include Bob in A Perfect Wedding and Female Greek Chorus in How I Learned to Drive. Past credits elsewhere include Trudy in The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe Julie in Miss Julie, and Dorine in Tartuffe, all at Murray State University.
Hannah Pruitt (Duchess of York), Henderson, KY, is a senior Theatre Arts major. Previous productions at UofL include If you Give a Fat Girl a Cookie (Studio Theatre), Greek Chorus in Medea (Studio Theatre), various roles in The Laramie Project, and Lord in As You Like It. This is her Senior Honors Scholar Thesis performance.
Will Salmons (Richard III), Tuckerton, NJ, is a third-year MFA student in Performance. Past productions at UofL include Esu Odara in How Orisanmi Chose His Head, Pompey in Measure for Measure, Mr. Vanislaw in Betty’s Summer Vacation, and Jaques in As You Like It. Past credits elsewhere include Michael in The Lisbon Traviata and Adam in The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told, both with Reality Theatre, Mr. Beaver in The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe with the Columbus Children’s Theatre, and Sam Byck in Assassins with Warehouse Theatre. This is his thesis performance.
Brandon Satterly (Brakenbury), Louisville, KY, is a freshmen Communications major. This is his debut performance at UofL. Past credits elsewhere include Sean in They Can Kill You, but They Can’t Eat You with Caspica Productions and Prince in Beauty and the Beast at A Theatre of Innocence.
Spencer Scruggs (Archbishop of York), Louisville, KY, is a sophomore Psychology major. He recently appeared as Abhorson and Friar Thomas in Measure for Measure at UofL. Past credits elsewhere include Dr. Paedagogus in Servant of Two Masters, The Lion in The Wiz, and Mr. Bumble in Oliver!, all at Seneca High School, and Juror #10 in Twelve Angry Men with the Drama Focus Group of the Governor’s Scholar Program.
Ashley Smith (Rivers, Murder, Soldier), Louisville, KY, is a first-year MFA student in Performance. She earned her BA in Theatre from the University of Kentucky. This is her debut performance at UofL. Past credits elsewhere include Little Red in Once Upon a Wolf at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, Sarah in Dracula at the Kentucky Repertory Theatre, Sister James in Doubt, and Lavinia in Titus Andronicus, both at the University of Kentucky.
Lauren Street (Queen Elizabeth), Nashville, TN, is a second-year MFA student in performance. Previous productions at UofL include Karl in A Perfect Wedding and Teenage Greek Chorus in How I Learned to Drive. Past credits elsewhere include Laura Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie at Naked Stages, Estelle in No Exit at Middle Tennessee State University and Stella Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire at The Black Box Theatre.
James Thompson (Vaughn, Citizen, Soldier), Louisville, KY, is a sophomore double majoring in Spanish and Theatre Arts. Previous productions at UofL include Nilly in Sausage Eaters (Studio Theatre) and Edmund in A Perfect Wedding. He recently appeared as Alfred in Death by Chocolate at Jeffersontown High School.
Megg Ward (Sir William Catesby), Crestwood, KY is a sophomore Theatre Arts major. She recently appeared as Lady of the Night and Secretary in Measure for Measure. Past credits elsewhere include Mrs. Savage in The Curious Savage and Jo March in Little Women, both at the Little Colonel Playhouse and Nurse in Romeo and Juliet at South Oldham High School. She also participated in the new media program at the Governor’s School for the Arts.
Jack Wright (Lord Stanley), Warsaw, KY, is a sophomore History major. This is his debut performance.
Dr. Rinda Frye’s (Director) recent directing credits at UofL include Measure for Measure, As You Like It, and Hamlet. A member of the Voice and Speech Teachers Association, she frequently coaches stage dialects at Actors Theatre of Louisville and at other theatres in the area. She has acted most recently as Titus in Titus Andronicus and has performed with the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival. She was co-founder and past artistic director of the Utah Shakespeare Players. Her publications include scholarly articles and a book, William Poel's Hamlets: The Director as Critic. She teaches acting, voice and stage speech.
Michael Hottois (Scenic and Lighting Design) is the resident Scenic and Lighting Designer for the Theatre Arts Department. Michael has designed well over 300 major productions with some of his favorites being Woyzeck, Ring ‘Round the Moon, Metamorphoses, Arsenic & Old Lace, and Uncle Vanya. Over the past few summers he designed Always, Patsy Cline; All Shook Up; The Producers; Ain't Misbehavin'; and No, No, Nanette for the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse in New York. His credits as a scenic artist include the films Boris and Natasha and Closetland, as well as Soul of the Game for HBO. He is also a member of United Scenic Artists Union, Local 829.
Zhanna Goldentul (Costume Design) is the resident Costume Designer for the Theatre Arts Department. Her recent designs for the department include How Orisanmi Chose His Head, How I Learned to Drive, The Laramie Project, A Song for Coretta, Come Down Burning, Titus Andronicus, Cage Rhythm, Romeo and Juliet, In The Blood, and many others. She is a graduate of the Theatrical Art College in Moscow and earned her MA in Fine Arts from UofL. She has designed costumes at Stage One: Louisville Children’s Theatre, and is a member of the United Scenic Artists' Union, Local 829.
James Coomer (Make-up Design), Louisville, KY, is a sophomore Theatre Arts major. He recently served as a stitcher and carpenter for How Orisanmi Chose His Head, A Perfect Wedding, Measure for Measure, and How I Learned to Drive at UofL. Past credits elsewhere include Costume Designer for The Nerd and Assistant Costume Designer for Dance Concert 2010, both at YPAS, and Electrician for The Sound of Music at Derby Dinner Playhouse and Hairspray at Music Theatre of Louisville. He is also the Assistant Wardrobe Master for the costume shop.
Tommy Neville (Sound Design) Atlanta, GA, is a senior Theater Arts Major. He recently served as the Soundboard Operator for The Laramie Project and Sound Designer for such productions as Measure for Measure and A Perfect Wedding at UofL, and appeared as Heath Ledger in Hell's Awesome and Donny in Lambs (Studio Theatre). Past credits elsewhere include the role of Lord Chamberlain with the Ballard Madrigals of 2007 and 2008. He is also the Sound Engineer for the Theater Arts Department.
Amy Cotterill (Assistant Director) is an actor, playwright, educator, and scholar. She is an Adjunct Faculty member at both University of Louisville and KCTCS where she teaches Voice, Playscript Interpretation, Acting, and Introduction to Theatre. She earned her MFA in Theatre Performance from University of Louisville and most recently published research on Wole Soyinka’s Theory of the Fourth Stage in Black Masks Magazine. She has appeared in numerous roles from Shakespeare’s tragedies to contemporary comedies and currently has two plays in development.
Sue Hlavinka (Stage Manager), Radcliffe, KY, is a junior Theatre Arts major. Previous production credits at UofL include House Manager for A Perfect Wedding and Stage Manager for Don’t Call her Bitch (Studio Theatre).
Wanda Alcott (Assistant Stage Manager) is a junior at UofL. She recently served as the Assistant Stage Manager for Measure for Measure at UofL. Past credits elsewhere include Berte in Hedda Gabler at Bellarmine University.
Alee Meredith (Assistant Stage Manager), Crestwood, KY, is a junior Theatre Arts major. She recently appeared in the 2011 production of The Vagina Monologues at UofL. Previous production credits at UofL include Director of King Arthur’s Socks and The Boar (Studio Theatre) and Assistant Director and Stage Manager for The Sausage Eaters (Studio Theatre). Past credits elsewhere include Enid DuBois in Working, Hyena in The Jungle Book, Sarah Good in The Crucible, and Noodler in Peter Pan, all at Oldham County High School. She is also the Undergraduate Student Coordinator for Studio Theatre.
Production Staff
Assistant Director – Amy Cotterill
Assistant Vocal Coaches – Jake Beamer, Beth Burrell, Billy Flood, Cara McHugh, Lauren Street
Stage Manager – Sue Hlavinka
Assistant Stage Managers – Wanda Alcott, Alee Meredith
Fight Choreographer – Conrad Newman
Fight Captain – Jake Beamer
Technical Director/Shop Foreman – Charles Nasby
Master Carpenters – Patrick Bayne, Kelly Bunch
Scenic Construction – Patrick Bayne, Kelly Bunch, Logan Dorne, Michelle Gentry, David Miller, TA 240 Stagecraft I
Set Crew – John F. Radeke
Production Buyer – Billy Flood
Costume Shop Manager – Melissa K. Shepherd
Assistant Costume Designers – James Coomer, Jocelyn Matsuo
Costume Construction – Blair Boyd, James Coomer, Amanda Hinds, Meredith Johnson, Jocelyn Matsuo, Hannah Pruitt
Wardrobe Master – Amanda Hinds
Assistant Wardrobe Master – Meredith Johnson
Costume Buyer – Hannah Pruitt
Wardrobe Crew – Derek Wahle
Properties Manager – Amos Dreisbach
Assistant Properties Manager – Deanna Gillispie
Properties Crew – Sabrina Spalding
Assistant Lighting Design – Kelly Bunch
Master Electricians – Lauren Camargo, Nick Potter
Lighting Crew – Collin Sage, TA 349-01
Lighting Operator – Nick Potter
Sound Engineer – Tommy Neville
Sound Operator – Collin Sage
Box Office Manager – Melanie Henry
Box Office Staff – Jody Ann Henry, Melanie Henry, Priscilla Tlamasico
House Manager – Nicole Bonner
Poster Design – Brett Thurman
Special Thanks – TA 240 Stagecraft I
