MADISON , NJ — The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey opens its newly extended 2007 season a month earlier than in the past with William Shakespeare's glorious epic Henry V , which has not been seen at The Shakespeare Theatre in a decade. Inaugurating The Shakespeare Theatre's historic 45th Anniversary Season, Henry V , directed by Shakespeare Theatre artistic director Bonnie J. Monte, begins previews on May 1 and continues performances through May 27. Leading a cast of more than 20 actors is Shakespeare Theatre company member David Conrad in the title role of King Henry V. Mr. Conrad is well-known to national audiences through his work on CBS-TV's Ghost Whisperer in which he co-stars with Jennifer Love Hewitt. Performances are Tuesday through Sundays at The Theatre's Main Stage – the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre in Madison . Regular ticket prices are $28-$52. Discount ticket packages of 7, 5 or 4 shows are also available. For tickets or more information, call 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org.

With Henry V , thought by some to be the first play ever presented on the “wooden O” at London 's original Globe Theatre, we witness the ascent of a charismatic and powerful leader who guides his nation to unity. The young, newly-crowned King Henry leads his troops against the much larger but unified army of France despite overwhelming odds. At the Battle of Agincourt, he rallies his troops and, with the help of the weather and a brilliant military strategy, the British defeat the French in a spectacular victory and King Henry V cements his place in

history.     

In celebration of the 45 th Anniversary Season, Henry V begins a journey for Shakespeare Theatre audiences through a 60-year epic cycle that is continued later in the season with Blood & Roses: Shakespeare's Henry VI . Adapted by Brian B. Crowe, this extraordinary production of Henry VI, Parts 1, 2 and 3, condensed into one evening, begins where Henry V ends -- with the death of King Henry V -- and continues with the rise of the “child king” King Henry VI and the spectacular War of the Roses that ensues under his blind leadership.

David Conrad returns to the Shakespeare Theatre to take on the role of King Henry V, one of the largest speaking roles in Shakespeare's canon. Conrad previously appeared at The Shakespeare Theatre in the 2006 production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and Richard II in 2004. He is best known currently as Jennifer Love Hewitt's husband on the CBS-TV hit series Ghost Whisperer . Prior, his many appearances include The Deep Blue Sea with Ed Herrmann at The Roundabout, and Troilus and Cressida, directed by Sir Peter Hall, at TFANA .

Jack Wetherall takes on the role of Chorus, whose famous lines “Oh for a muse of fire, that would ascend the brightest heaven of invention…” begins the play. Wetherall, making his Shakespeare Theatre debut is known to television fans as Uncle Vic on the Showtime series Queer as Folk. Prior, Wetherall was a company member of the Stratford Festival Theatre of Canada under the artistic direction of Robin Phillips where he appeared in Henry V , As You Like It and The Seagull . On Broadway, he appeared in the title role of The Elephant Man . Later this season, he will direct The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey production of Measure for Measure which will run July 10 – 29.

Also featured in the cast is Kate Baldwin as Princess Katherine – King Henry's future French bride. Baldwin, making her Shakespeare Theatre debut, appeared on Broadway in Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Full Monty and Wonderful Town as well as several productions of the Encores! Series at City Center .

Returning to The Shakespeare Theatre are Ames Adamson as Captain Fluellen/Bishop of Ely

(Illyria, Love's Labours Lost, King John ); Richard Bourg as the Duke of Burgundy (The Rivals, Cymbeline, As You Like It ), Chantal Jean-Pierre as Alice (The Blue Bird ), Darren Matthias as Nym (Illyria), Ian Stuart as the King of France (Richard III ); Raphael Nash Thompson (Othello, Macbeth ); and Scott Whitehurst as the Constable of France (As You Like It, School for Scandal, Henry V ). Making his Shakespeare Theatre debut is Brent Langdon as Pistol, part of Shakespeare's comic relief trio. Langdon recently appeared in Murderers at the Philadelphia Theatre Company.

Rounding out the cast are Salvatore Cacciato, Josh Carpenter, Anthony De Luca, John Patrick Doherty, Seamus Mulcahy, Philip Mutz, Garth McCardle, Scott McIntosh, Sean Tarrant and Christopher Thornton.

Tickets to all the plays of the 2007 Season are now on sale. For tickets or more information, call 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org

Special Performances

The first public performance of Henry V on Tuesday, May 1 at 7:30 p.m. offers opportunities for reduced-price or free tickets, as in incentive to first-time theatergoers as well as those who would otherwise not be able to afford a night at the theatre. As always, the first preview performance is Pay What You Wish night. Visit The Shakespeare Theatre Box Office between noon and 7:00 p.m. on May 1 and name your own admission price for that evening's 7:30 preview performance (regularly $28 to $32, offer subject to availability).

For no more than the cost of a regular ticket, Symposium Series performances include the additional treat of a post-play discussion with the cast and artistic staff, on Tuesday, May 8 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 12 at 2:00 p.m.

On Thursday, May 10, The Shakespeare Theatre presents the popular education program Know the Show . From 7:00 to 7:30 p.m., artistic director Bonnie J. Monte will present a pre-performance talk that provides background information and an insider's perspective on Henry V .

General admission is $5 for the general public, $4 for ticket package holders. Tickets to that evening's 8:00 p.m. performance may be purchased separately for $41 or $45.

Student Matinees

In addition to regular public performances, The Shakespeare Theatre will present special Student Matinee performances of Henry V for school groups . Student Matinees are at 10:30 a.m. on May 17, 18 and 23 rd . Tickets to these school-time performances are only $15 per person for student groups , including a post-show discussion with the actors and a comprehensive study guide for each teacher. For Student Matinee reservations, call 973-408-3980 or e-mail JBGrant@ShakespeareNJ.org

About the Director

With the 45 th Anniversary Season, director Bonnie J. Monte marks her seventeenth season as artistic director of The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. Since 1990, she has directed 36 productions for the company, including Macbeth, Antony and Cleopatra, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Twelfth Night . Her many adaptations of classic works, including Enrico IV, The Cherry Orchard and Pride and Prejudice , have earned her critical acclaim. Later this season, Ms. Monte will direct a new version of her adaptation of The Blue Bird by Maurice Maeterlinck. The Blue Bird runs November 27 through December 31.

The Artistic Staff

Creating the worlds of King Henry V's England and France are set designer Michael Schweikardt, lighting designer Steve Rosen, costume designer Dane Laffrey and dialect coach Stephen Gabis.

Tickets & General Information

Preview performances of Henry V are Tuesday, May 1 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday and Thursday, May 2 and 3 at 8:00 p.m., offering the thrill of seeing a work-in-progress before the show officially opens. Preview tickets are $28 to $32.

Additional performances are Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. (excluding Opening Night at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 5); Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 p.m., beginning May 6; and Sundays, at 7:00 p.m. There is NO evening performance on Friday, May 18; there is NO matinee performance on Saturday, May 19 or Sunday, May 27.

Regular ticket prices range from $37 to $52 depending upon seating location and performance day and time. Groups of 10 or more save up to 25% off the regular ticket price.

Patrons can save up to $100 off regular ticket prices by purchasing discount Ticket Packages that allow ticket buyers to select seven, five or four plays of their choice at discount prices. Ticket Packages also offer additional benefits such as discounts on additional tickets and flexible ticket exchange privileges. Patrons may also select FlexPasses -- discounted vouchers that are redeemed for tickets during the season. Ticket packages start at $96.

The 45 th Anniversary Main Stage Season also features the farce The Play's The Thing by Ferenc Molnar (June 5 – July 1); Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare (July 10 – 29); the absurdist comedy The Bald Soprano by Eugene Ionesco (August 7 – 26); the rarely produced, Pulitzer Prize-winning The Time of Your Life by William Saroyan (September 4 – 30); Blood & Roses: Shakespeare's Henry VI adapted by Brian B. Crowe (Oct. 9 – Nov. 11); and the family classic tale The Blue Bird by Maurice Maeterlinck; adapted by Bonnie J. Monte (Nov. 27 – December 31).

The Shakespeare Theatre will once again present Shakespeare under-the-stars at its Outdoor Stage – the Greek Theatre at the College of St. Elizabeth in Convent Station. Shakespeare's most popular comedy, A Midsummer Night's Dream will run June 19 – July 22.

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's Main Stage , the 308-seat F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, is conveniently located in Madison at 36 Madison Avenue (Route 124) at Lancaster Road (on the Drew University campus), just minutes from routes 287, 78 and 10. Parking is free. The Outdoor Stage is located at the Greek Theatre, 2 Convent Rd. at Convent Station – on the campus of the College of St. Elizabeth . Parking is free. For more information , or to purchase tickets, call 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org .

# # #

The acclaimed Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey is an independent, professional theatre company located on the Drew University campus. One of the leading Shakespeare theatres in the nation, serving 100,000 adults and children annually, it is New Jersey 's only professional theatre company dedicated solely to Shakespeare's canon and other world classics. Through its distinguished productions and education programs, the company strives to illuminate the universal and lasting relevance of the classics for contemporary audiences.

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's programs are made possible, in part, by funding from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as funds from the National Endowment for the Arts.  Additional major support is received from The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the F. M. Kirby Foundation, The Edward T. Cone Foundation, The Shubert Foundation and Drew University , as well as contributions from numerous corporations, foundations, government agencies and individuals.  American Airlines is the official airline of The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. Crystal Rock Water is the company's official water provider. Barefoot Wine is the official wine provider. The 2007 Outdoor Stage production of A Midsummer Night's Dream is sponsored by Bank of America.

General Information

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: Bonnie J. Monte

MAIN STAGE:   OUTDOOR STAGE:

F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre   The Greek Theatre

36 Madison Ave. (at Lancaster Rd. )   2 Convent Road (at Convent Station)

Madison , NJ   Morris Township , NJ

(on the campus of Drew University )   (on the campus of the College of Saint Elizabeth )

TICKETS & INFO: Call 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org

Henry V – Snapshot

Venue: F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Avenue at Lancaster Rd. in Madison
(on the campus of Drew University )

Performances: Tuesdays at 7:30 pm; Wednesdays – Saturdays at 8 pm; Sundays at 7 pm; Saturday and Sundays at 2 pm. Call 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org

No Performance: Friday, May 18; Saturday, May 19, 2 p.m.; Sunday, May 27, 2 p.m.

Tickets : $28 to $52 – Call the Box Office at 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org .

Previews: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, May 1, 2 and 3

Opening Night: Saturday, May 5 (7pm)

Symposium Performances: Tuesday, June 8 (7:30 pm); Saturday, May 12 (2pm)

Know The Show: Thursday, May 10 (7pm)

Closing performance: Sunday, May 27 (7pm)

Performances:

Tuesdays: May 1, 8, 15, 22 at 7:30 pm

Wednesdays: May 2, 9, 16, 23 at 8 pm

Thursdays: May 3, 10, 17, 24 at 8 pm

Fridays: May 4, 11, 25 at 8 pm

Saturdays: May 5 at 7 pm; May 12, 19, 26 at 8 pm

Sundays: May 6, 13, 20, 27 at 7 pm

Saturdays: May 12, 26 at 2 pm

Sundays: May 6, 13, 20 at 2 pm