Today’s Date: June 16th, 2025
Show Title: 1 Henry VI
Director: Hailey Pearce
Staff Crew: Emerson Helmbrecht and Topher Zane (RDAs); Alexa Palena and Analise Toone (Interns)
What we did
Today, on this dreary day, we had our first rehearsal in the Blackfriars Playhouse, hence the excess of photos today. We started off with a game, led by the fabulous Wren, who turned 16 today! After that fun warm-up, we started blocking Act 1. During our first scene, campers Anna Caroline and Mariana worked with team fight captain, Jake, to finish staging the (silly) fight between the Dauphin and Joan. We staged a variety of scenes, including the funeral of Henry V, the introduction of Joan de Pucell, a storming of the Tower of London, and the first glimpse of the mighty warrior Talbot.
Quick and Quotable
- From the play: “Hung be the heavens with black” -Bedford
- From the staff: “I GUESS the French should be able to rule their own country” -Hailey
- From the cast: “She’s #blessed” -Wren (THE BIRTHDAY STAR)
Production Insights
It is always particularly exciting to have rehearsals in the Blackfriars Playhouse. Architecture greatly influenced how plays were written and how we stage them today. The first line of the play “hung be the heavens with black” is much more relevant when we are surrounded by the dark curtains and the “heavens” of the playhouse. Even dramaturgically, this play features an abundance of scenes that seem to have been made for a balcony, such as the many sieges, city walls, and tower scenes.
Campers particpating in the game "Skittles" led by Wren.
Everett (Exeter), Janet (Bedford), Sanchez (Somerset), and Isabel (Beaufort) work with Hailey to stage the opening scene.
Highland cows, Ross and Hotspur, watch as director Hailey gives campers their entrances.
Anna Caroline (Charles) and Mariana (Joan) practice their fight scene.
Analise Toone
Dramaturgy for 1 Henry VI
Analise Toone is a rising senior and first-year Shakespeare & Performance student at Mary Baldwin. She is an ASCOT and attended camp from 2020 to 2022. Analise works with ASC's Drama Club and directed their recent production of Macbeth. She is originally from Birmingham, Alabama but currently lives in Staunton with her rabbit, Elsa.