Choose your side with The Rise of Queen Margaret at American Shakespeare Center

The American Shakespeare Center will open the final production of its Summer/Fall Season on September 9. The Rise of Queen Margaret (Henry VI, Part 2) is a wild carnival of avarice and the glorious second installment of the Wars of the Roses tetralogy. The ASC will continue the Wars of the Roses tetralogy over the next two artistic years with The Fall of King (Henry VI,Part 3) in 2017 and Richard III in 2018.

Young King Henry’s fierce and ambitious queen, Margaret of Anjou, leads the House of Lancaster in brutal civil wars against the House of York and its would-be-king, Richard, Duke of York. Witchcraft, demons, murders, and the spectacular Jack Cade rebellion all conspire to make this play unforgettable. The Rise of Queen Margaret continues the story of England’s civil wars begun in last year’s Shakespeare’s Joan of Arc (Henry VI, Part 1). ASC Artistic Director and Margaret Director Jim Warren says “Margaret is no less a warrior than last year’s Joan; but in this play she fights her political battles with schemes and dreams rather than a sword. Smart, ruthless, and cunning, she’s a powerful Queen you can love or hate.”

The Rise of Queen Margaret is the potboiler of the Wars of the Roses series, with rising tensions that ultimately consume the entire country.  Allison Glenzer returns as Queen Margaret, as does Patrick Earl as the Duke of Suffolk. Bitter rivalries and shifting allegiances make this chapter a politically-charged powerhouse perfectly suited for this election year.

Margaret joins three other productions currently playing in rotating repertory at the Blackfriars Playhouse as part of the 2016 Summer/Fall Season. Shakespeare’s heartwarming comedy Twelfth Night, his enthralling family drama King Lear, and the rock’n’roll epic Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson will continue playing alongside Margaret through November.

Act fast to guarantee your seat. Reserved tickets for The Rise of Queen Margaret (Henry VI, Part 2) can be purchased by calling 1.877.Much.Ado, visiting the Blackfriars Playhouse Box Office on 10 South Market Street in Staunton, or logging online to AmericanShakespeareCenter.com. Ticket prices start at $26. Pay What You Will performances are on September 7 and 9. Residents of Staunton, Waynesboro or Augusta County can take advantage of $18 local rush tickets on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Student, Senior, Military, and AAA discounts are available.