Red Bull Theater's production of William Shakespeare's Richard II officially opened Off-Broadway November 10, and the reviews are rolling in!
The production, which began performances October 29, was originally scheduled to run through November 30 at Off-Broadway's Astor Place Theatre. The production has been extended an additional two weeks, through December 14.
Starring Michael Urie, the piece is adapted and directed by Craig Baldwin. This reimagining of Shakespeare’s drama is set in 1980s Manhattan, as the neon skyline and shadowy backrooms become an epic battleground of identity and power, where a king’s divine right crumbles beneath the weight of human frailty.
READ: Michael Urie Has Wanted to Play Richard II for 20 Years; Now Is the Perfect Time
New York Theatre Guide (Austin Fimmano)
The New York Times (Jason Zinoman)*
New York Stage Review (Melissa Rose Bernardo)
New York Stage Review (Bob Verini)
TalkinBroadway (Howard Miller)
*This review may require creating a free account or a paid subscription.
Playbill will continue to update this list as reviews come
A long-time artistic collaborator of Red Bull Theater, Urie (Oh, Mary!, Ugly Betty, Once Upon a Mattress) has performed in numerous Red Bull Revelation Readings and Off-Broadway productions, including The Revenger's Tragedy in 2005 and The Government Inspector in 2017.
Urie is joined in the production by Grantham Coleman, Ron Canada, Kathryn Meisle, David Mattar Merten, Lux Pascal, James Seol, Daniel Stewart Sherman, Ryan Spahn, Emily Swallow, and Sarin Monae West.
The design team includes scenic designer Arnulfo Maldonado, costume designer Rodrigo Muñoz, lighting designer Jeanette Yew, and sound designer Brandon Wolcott. Rick Sordelet serves as fight director and intimacy coordinator.
Richard II is the first production at the Astor Place under its new management, No Guarantees Productions.
Producers include Red Bull Theater, with Mickey Liddell and Pete Shilaimon, in association with Daryl Roth, Tom D'Angora, and Willette and Manny Klausner.
Visit RedBullTheater.com.
Michael Urie in Richard II
Ron Canada, Emily Swallow, and Michael Urie in Richard II
Sarin Monae West in Richard II
Emily Swallow, David Mattar Merten, Grantham Coleman, Michael Urie, and Lux Pascal in Richard II
Company of Richard II
Sarin Monae West, Lux Pascal, Michael Urie, David Mattar Merten, Ryan Spahn, and James Seol in Richard II
Company of Richard II
Ron Canada, Michael Urie, and Lux Pascal in Richard II
Company of Richard II
Michael Urie and company of Richard II
Kathryn Meisle, Grantham Coleman, and Emily Swallow in Richard II
Kathryn Meisle, Grantham Coleman, and Michael Urie in Richard II
Lux Pascal and Ryan Spahn in Richard II
Sarin Monae West and Daniel Stewart Sherman in Richard II
Michael Urie in Richard II
Grantham Coleman and Michael Urie in Richard II
Grantham Coleman and Michael Urie in Richard II
Michael Urie and Emily Swallow in Richard II
Michael Urie in Richard II
Michael Urie and David Mattar Merten in Richard II
