Richard III, at Pigeon Creek Shakespeare, started with the idea that all violence is misogyny, and the question, “What if all the curses of the grieving women had real, literal power?” Magical realism Shakespeare!

  • “Hover about her; say that right for right
    Hath dimmed your infant morn to agèd night.”
    Kate Bode, Katherine Mayberry
    Photo by Seraphina Zorn
  • “Look how my ring encompasseth thy finger;
    Even so thy breast encloseth my poor heart.”
    Scott Lange, Kimi Griggs
    Photo by Seraphina Zorn
  • “There is no creature loves me. And if I should die, no soul should weep for me.”
  • “No marvel, lord, though it affrighted you.
    I am afraid, methinks, to hear you tell it.”
    Kat Hermes, Amanda Grah
    Photo by Seraphina Zorn

Through exploring those questions, we found how terrible a character could be, and how kind a cast could be. Although I directed 3/4 of this production as a disembodied head, the audience’s reactions to it were visceral.

This was one of the most-lauded shows we’ve done. We got a fantastic review in Encore, Michigan, and a “Best of the Bard” Wilde Award nomination for the production, as well as a Wilde win for Scott Lange, who played Richard. We were supposed to remount it for a production in 2023, but it was cancelled due to a COVID outbreak. We hope to have another chance.

Thanks to Seraphina Zorn for these photos! More here.

Cast list:

  • Scott Lange: Richard III
  • Riley Van Ess: Duke of Buckingham; Sir James Blunt
  • Katherine Mayberry: Queen Elizabeth Woodeville, Earl of Oxford
  • Kat Hermes: Rivers/Grey; George, Duke of Clarence; John Morton, Bishop of Ely; Princess Elizabeth York; Prince Edward; Sir Walter Herbert
  • Ashley Normand: Duchess of York; Earl of Richmond; First Citizen; Lord Mayor of London; Sir John; Sir Robert Brakenbury
  • Ethan Engeseth: Clarence’s Boy; James Tyrrel; King Edward IV; Scrivener; Sir William Catesby
  • Kimmy Griggs: Lady Anne; Lord Lovell; Marquess of Dorset; First Murderer; Pursuivant; Third Citizen
  • Scott Wright: Cardinal; King Henry VI; Lord Stanley; Second Murderer; Second Citizen
  • Amanda Grah: Sheriff; Richard, Duke of York; William, Lord Hastings
  • Kate Bode: Archbishop; Clarence’s Daughter; Queen Margaret; Sir Richard Ratcliffe

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