PHOTO: JEFF FRAZIER
Shakespeare in the Park: Henry V
When: Thursdays-Sundays through Sept. 13 and Monday, Sept. 7
Where: Centennial Park Band Shell
It’s been almost 15 years since the 2001 Polk Theater production of Shakespeare’s Henry V, a rather groundbreaking piece that thrived under the progressive direction of Mark Cabus and starred David Alford. This year’s Shakespeare in the Park production revisits the Bard’s inspirational history play, but with a twist: Director Nat McIntyre guides a mounting that uses Shakespeare’s drama to reflect on the American Civil War, with enemies coming together on a Tennessee battlefield in the last days of the bitter conflict.
As always, the Nashville Shakespeare Festival has assembled an estimable cast, which includes David Compton, Tamiko Robinson, Matt Rosenbaum, Aaron Muñoz, Karen Sternberg and Alan Lee. In the title role is Matt Garner, who was impressive in his recent Nashville Repertory Theatre debut, a production of Death of a Salesman. As always, there’s stout onstage representation from NSF’s Apprentice Company, plus strong design support from Morgan Matens (set), June Kingsbury (costumes) and Anne Willingham (lighting). Food and drink vendors open at 6 p.m., and the pre-show entertainment (a longtime NSF tradition) commences at 6:30 p.m., with curtain at 7:30.
