King Lear holds a surprise ceremony to divide his kingdom among his three daughters based on their declarations of love. When Cordelia, his youngest and favorite, demurs, Lear banishes her. Soon after, his eldest daughters, Goneril and Regan, reject him, unleashing a tempest of tested loyalties, greed, and violence. Accompanied by his two loyal servants, the Fool and Kent, Lear descends into madness. Meanwhile, the bastard Edmund conspires against his father, the nobleman Gloucester, and half-brother Edgar. The factions converge for a climactic battle near the cliffs of Dover.

Themes: political turmoil, family dysfunction, consent, sightlessness, sibling rivalry, abandonment, conspiracy to commit harm, jealousy, deteriorating mental health and faculties, disability, exile and banishment, infidelity, death and grieving, reconciliation

Imagery: depiction of romantic intimacy, depiction of onstage violence/implied gore resulting in loss of vision, depiction of corpses and related mourning

A note on violence in our play: Active violence where blood might be suggested is achieved with abstracted physical storytelling. No stage blood or literal weaponry will be used.


Run Time: Estimated at 2 hours 20 minutes including one 15 minute intermission (will be updated opening week)

Cast

Christopher Atchison Edgar/Knight
Davion Tynarious Brown Cornwall/Knight/
Attendant/ Messenger/Soldier/Captain
Cianna Castro Goneril/Attendant/Messenger
Quinlan Corbett * Edmund/King of France
Jonathan Cullen King Lear
Paulina De la Parra Cordelia/Fool
Zo Eisenbrey Oswald/Burgundy/Attendant/Soldier
Peter Hadresr Gloucester/Doctor/Soldier
Alyssa Keene Kent
Hannah Nguyen Regan/Gentleman
Helen Roundhill Albany/Attendant/Messenger

* Appearing through an Agreement between ISF and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

UNDERSTUDIES
Jacq Babb, Christina Boom, Tanya Boyd, Jameson Cook, Dan Christiaens, Hannah Nguyen, Riley Stowell, Dwight Zehm

Production Team

Mackenzie Adamick Original Music
Jacq Babb Production Assistant
Kristin Brown Stage Manager
Lisa Coleman Costume Design
Cu Cukale Assistant Stage Manager
Susan Freeman Properties Artisan
Kaileykielle Hoga Sound Design
J. Tyler Jones Fight Director
Alyssa Keene Voice & Text Coach
Chad Dexter Kinsman Asst. Director; Dramaturg
Jasmine Lomax Intimacy Director
Terri McMahon Director
Lily Noto Scenic Paint
Bella Rivera Scenic Design