Shakespeare's Richard II  is presented as part of the Classical Initiative at ATA.

The events of this play set in motion a decades-long struggle for the crown that continues in several more history plays.

Henry Bolingbroke, cousin to Richard II, charges Thomas Mowbray with serious crimes, including the murder of the Duke of Gloucester. (Bolingbroke’s father, John of Gaunt, privately blames the king for Gloucester’s death.) Bolingbroke and Mowbray prepare for a trial by combat. At the last minute, the king halts the action and banishes both Bolingbroke and Mowbray.

When John of Gaunt dies, Richard seizes his possessions to fund a war, dispossessing Bolingbroke. Bolingbroke returns to England, quickly gathering support. By the time Richard returns from Ireland, many of his former allies have joined Bolingbroke. 

Richard abdicates, yielding the crown to Bolingbroke. Richard is held at Pomfret Castle and Bolingbroke becomes King Henry IV. A murder plot against him is uncovered, but he is killed anyway.

Director: James Jennings

Starring Sam Cruz as Richard II

Cast: Josh Bartosch, Constance Christie, Jane Culley*, Curtis Cunningham, Derek Donnellan, Ted Doyle, Jeff Ebner, Sam Hardy, Rick Jordan, Charles Kennedy IV, Emery Lawrence, Gregory O'Connor, Andreas Spiker, Richard Stelnik, and Annie Unger.

*AEA Showcase code, pending.

Runtime: 3 hours with intermission

This purchase is non-refundable but can be transferred or converted into a tax-deductible ‘donation.’ For exchanges please email [email protected].

Press Contact: [email protected] 

Industry Contact: [email protected]

American Theatre of Actors, Inc. (ATA) was founded in 1976 by James Jennings to promote the development of new playwrights, directors and actors, and to provide them a creative atmosphere in which to work. The plays are dramas, comedies, and hybrids, dealing with the social and ethical problems of contemporary society.

12,000 actors have worked at ATA including Dennis Quaid, Bruce Willis, Dan Lauria, Chazz Palminteri, Danny Aielo, David Morse, Edie Falco and Kathryn Hahn. Our productions are sometimes grouped as 'festivals,' such as a Playwrights Festival or a Directors Festival. In 2016 we began an initiative to feature women in theatre as directors and playwrights, today this is our WIT! (Women in Theatre) program.

**HEALTH & SAFETY at the ATA:
Late seating may be problematic.

ADA Access: Call 24 hours in advance for all wheelchair access. Please have an assistant if you are in a manual wheelchair to get over the front entryway steps. Electric wheelchairs must use our 53rd street entrance and we need to plan ahead with you. Call 212-581-3044 or 917-773-2933. Only 1 wheelchair spot is available per performance.

Masks in the theatre are optional until further notice.
If you are feeling unwell or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, have been exposed to anyone within 14 days of your visit, or have been instructed to self-isolate, we ask that you stay home and contact the ticket site (or producer of the show) to discuss a ticket refund or exchange.
Ticket purchasers are responsible for informing and providing this information if they are providing the ticket for a guest. Anyone that does not abide by our protocols may be denied entry to our facility.

We recognize that public health guidelines may change and therefore our policies are also subject to change without notice. If you test COVID positive within a week of being in our facility, you may have exposed others. Please call us as a tracing contact: 212-581-3044.