September 5–8, 2019

A bare-bones staging of Shakespeare’s Henry V in a one-man performance highlighting the necessity for authentic, compelling, and selfless leadership. Directed by Ann Ciccolella. Featuring Paul Parente.

$10 / 85 minutes

Commonwealth Classic Theatre Company (CCTC), a not-for-profit theatre company, is dedicated to the principle that theater is a vital component of a civil society. It is our mission to present theatrical works from both the classic and contemporary canons that bear witness to the rich variety and commonality of human experience and which enhance our audience’s appreciation of theater as a humanizing art form.

In addition to the company’s 15th Anniversary “Free Theatre in the Parks” production of Measure for Measure this past July, CCTC is excited to be returning to the world of indoor theater with this 2019 Fringe Festival offering of H5¹, a one-man adaptation of Shakespeare’s HENRY V. This condensed and concentrated treatment of the play has a lone Chorus narrating the story of Shakespeare’s great warrior king as he matures into a true leader through the crucible of war.

Ann Ciccolella (Director) – As Artistic Director of Austin Shakespeare since 2008, Ann has led the company in producing Shakespeare in the Park and indoor shows at the Long Center’s Rollins Studio Theater, where she has staged Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire, a female lead as Hamlet, Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia, Pride and Prejudice. For the previous 8 years, she was Managing Director for Zach Theater, Austin. Ann also led the Renaissance Theater Company as Artistic Director, producing and directing Off Broadway and along the East Coast for ten years. A graduate of NYU in Dramatic Literature, History of Theater and Cinema, Ann directed and produced a new adaptation of Ayn Rand’s Anthem Off-Broadway in NYC at the Baryshnikov Arts Center in 2013.

Paul Parente (Chorus) – As an actor, Paul has performed leading roles at the Zachary Scott Theatre, The National Shakespeare Company, Hedgerow Theatre, Classic Works Theatre, American Shakespeare Repertory, New Stagecraft Company, Renaissance Theater Company etc. With CCTC he performed Bluntschli in Arms and the Man, Hortensio in The Taming of the Shrew, Peter Quince in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Clarence in Richard III, the Stage Manager in Our Town, Antonio in The Tempest, Orgon in Tartuffe, and Capulet in Romeo and Juliet.
As a playwright, his most recent work, Rage of Achilles, was produced by CCTC as part of the “Cool Classics” program in 2015 after receiving a workshop presentation at Austin Shakespeare Festival. Droit Du Seigneur was also produced by CCTC at the 2010 Philadelphia Fringe Festival and in New York City. His play, Two and Twenty, published by Samuel French and has been produced nationally and in Canada. His written work has received numerous productions and readings including those by The Acting Company, Salamander Repertory Company, Stillwater Theatre Company in New York City. Paul directed the 2014 10th Anniversary Free Theatre in the Parks production of Twelfth Night. Paul is an educator teaching High School English and is the Director of Theatre at Avon Grove Charter School in Southern Chester County.

Learn more:
cctheatrec.org