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November 16–24, 2024
Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre
Conrad Prebys Theatre Center
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Sam White
With no male heir and the weight of the nation on his shoulders, King Henry VIII seeks to divorce his wife Katherine so he can marry Anne Boleyn. But Henry’s trusted advisors have plans of their own, and the consequences of his decisions will change their lives—and the history of England—forever. The talented students of The Old Globe and University of San Diego Shiley Graduate Theatre Program perform Henry VIII for the very first time, bringing to thrilling life this final installment of Shakespeare’s history plays.
A joint venture of the Globe and USD, the Shiley Graduate Theatre Program nationally recruits seven students each year to participate in an intensive two-year course of graduate study in classical theatre. Private funding for the Master of Fine Arts in Theatre program has been contributed through a generous endowment established by Donald and Darlene Shiley. Additional support for the program is provided by the Dorothy Brown Endowment Fund and the Louis Yager Cantwell Foundation.
Major underwriting of The Old Globe and University of San Diego Shiley Graduate Theatre Program at The Old Globe is provided by Darlene Marcos Shiley. Additional support is provided by the Dorothy Brown Endowment Fund and the Louis Yager Cantwell Foundation. Financial support is provided by The City of San Diego. The Theodor and Audrey Geisel Fund provides leadership support for The Old Globe’s year-round activities.
Total running time: Two hours and 30 minutes (two acts with one intermission).
Sam White (Director) is an internationally-recognized producer and director whose work includes three seasons at the critically-acclaimed Stratford Festival in Ontario, Canada. White is also an award-winning entrepreneur having founded Shakespeare in Detroit in 2013. White’s awards include Crain’s Detroit Business’ 40 Under 40 Award and the National Association of Women Business Owners’ Breakthrough Award. Other credits include directing Twelfth Night at the Utah Shakespeare Festival, the Paul Nicholson Arts Management Fellowship at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and Yale’s Director’s Workshop circa 2019. She thanks the entire crew and production team for their hard work making this 16th century production possible.
Kristen E. Flores (Scenic Design) Past design credits: Globe for All: Henry V, Thinking Shakespeare LOVE!, The Ruby In Us, Globe for All: Twelfth Night (The Old Globe); The Sitayana (or How to Make an Exit) (East West Players); Hour of Great Mercy, The Happiest Place on Earth, Cardboard Piano, Moors, Homos, or Everyone in America, A Civil War Christmas, Bright Half Life, Baby With the Bathwater (Diversionary Theatre); Fade (TUYO and Moxie); Beehive, God of Carnage, American Hero ( New Village Arts); Tarrytown (Backyard Renaissance Theatre); Almost, Maine (Onstage Players); Red Planet Respite (Circle Circle Dot Dot); Playwrights Project Festival; I Am My Own Wife (The New Group West).
Elisa Benzoni (Costume Design) Elisa has worked on over 100 productions across Southern California with theatres including The Old Globe, La Jolla Playhouse, Geffen Playhouse, South Coast Repertory, Laguna Playhouse, North Coast Repertory, San Diego Repertory, Diversionary Theatre, and New Village Arts. Being Italian born, Elisa has also had the opportunity to work and perfect her craft in Europe. Elisa holds a costume design M.F.A. from UCSD. She is currently professor of costume design at the University of San Diego.
Colby Freel (Lighting Design) works in theatre, dance, concerts, and architecture. He holds an M.F.A. in Theatrical Design from San Diego State University. Recent credits: lighting design for: TL;DR (Diversionary Theatre), Cry It Out (MOXIE Theatre), A Christmas Carol (Cygnet Theatre), Present Laughter (Cygnet Theatre), Postcard American Town – World Premiere (San Diego State University), and Sapience (MOXIE Theatre). Assistant/associate design: Is It Thursday Yet? (The Broad Stage), Great Comet (Cygnet Theatre), The High Table (Diversionary), and Sister Act, Kinky Boots, Drowsy Chaperone, A Chorus Line (Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera).
Eliza Vedar (Sound Design) (She/They) is a sound designer, composer, music director, and pianist. Their work has been featured in theatrical productions throughout Southern California as well as with various educational institutions including: San Diego State University, CSU San Marcos, and University of San Diego. Eliza holds a Bachelor's degree in Music Performance: Piano from San Diego State University. elizavedar.com/
Nathan C. Crocker (Vocal Coach) Previous Old Globe coaching credits include Danai Gurira's Familiar in 2019. Pre-Broadway coaching credits: A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical; Ain’t Too Proud. Regional coaching credits: McCarter Theatre, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Huntington Theatre, American Players Theatre, Chautauqua Theatre Company, Two Rivers Theatre, Village Theatre, and Roundabout Theatre Company. Nathan is the Head of Voice and Speech for The Old Globe/University of San Diego Shiley Graduate Theatre Program. Certified teacher of Knight-Thompson Speechwork and Fitzmaurice Voicework. AEA. nathanccrocker.com
Ray Chambers (Dramaturg, Text Coach) As an actor for the Old Globe: Life of Riley, Macbeth, Hamlet, Love’s Labors Lost, The Comedy of Errors, Antony and Cleopatra, The School for Scandal, Coriolanus. Regional: Necessary Sacrifices, Hedda Gabler (NCR); Tartuffe (Two River Theatre); Man of the Moment (Arena Studio); Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Great Expectations, The Tempest (ATC); The Count of Monte Cristo, Coriolanus, Hamlet, Henry V, The Rivals, Saint Joan, Richard III, King John, etc. (Alabama Shakes). Head of Acting for The Old Globe and USD Shiley Graduate Theatre Program, and first time with Henry VIII!
Emily Mattson (Stage Manager) Regional credits: Henry 6: Parts 1 and 2 (SM apprentice, The Old Globe), A Comedy of Errors (SM intern, The Old Globe, Summer Shakespeare Studio), Tootsie (PA, Moonlight Stage). California State University, Fullerton credits: Twelfth Night (PSM, Young Theater), Fefu and Her Friends (PSM, Golleher Alumni House). Blue Stockings (ASM, Hallberg Theater), Lady Susan (ASM, Hallberg Theater), Spring Dance Theater (ASM, Little Theater). Education: California State University,Fullerton BA in Theater, BA in Business Administration.
Yulin “Lisa” Fang (Assistant Stage Manager) is a stage manager based in San Diego, originally from Shanghai, China. She recently graduated from UC San Diego with a minor in theater. Regional credits: LatinX New Play Festival: I Never Asked for a GoFundMe (SM, La Jolla Playhouse), Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (SM apprentice, The Old Globe), A Weekend with Pablo Picasso (ASM swing, New Village Arts). UC San Diego credits: New Directions (PSM), 900 Years (ASM), Hells Canyon (ASM), Sotoba Komachi (PA).
Jesse Perez (Choreographer, Program Director, and Craig Noel Distinguished Professor of The Old Globe and University of San Diego Shiley Graduate Theatre Program) Perez is also a professional actor, director, and choreographer. He has directed the program’s Henry IV Part One, and Twelfth Night both produced by The Old Globe. His choreography credits include The Comedy of Errors (Shakespeare & Company), Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare on the Sound), Steel Magnolias (Trinity Repertory Company), The Luckiest (La Jolla Playhouse), The Great Leap (Atlantic Theater Company), and Jedermann (Salzburg Festival). As an actor at The Globe, he has appeared in The Merry Wives of Windsor, Taming of the Shrew, El Borracho, and Romeo and Juliet.
