Henry VI Part 3:The Rise of Richard, Final Poster

Posted on by Thor

Henry VI Part 3: The Rise of Richard is being performed at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater (812 Rollins Street Orlando FL) through April 19, 2026.

I went to a performance and had a great time.

Having won the battle of St. Albins, Richard the Duke of York descended to the throne of England. Later York is killed in battle. His son Edward the Black Prince took the crown and soon died as well.

The murdered king Richard had three sons, Edward IV, George Duke of Clarence, and Richard III.

Richard III was who I put on the poster. Richard III was just one of many who were in the whirlwind of deceptions and murder leading to the crown. The crown changed hands multiple times between King Henry VI who was pious and weak willed, and Edward who was the oldest son of York.

The only way to keep track of all the players in the war of the roses was to follow the family tree in the program and a chart summarizing who supported who in the power struggle. Though on the sidelines through much of the play, it became clear that the misshapen Richard III was willing to do anything to ascend to the thrown. The path to the throne would be bathed in blood.

When you enter the theater, you are given a sticker with a white or red rose on it. The white rose shows that you side with the House of York and a red rose shows that you support The House of Lancaster. At time in the show armies would rush down the aisles of the theater shouting White Rose, or Red Rose! Members of the audience would shout back in response. The play is mostly about a dysfunctional family who use murder to gain power and the crown. Pick you family crest wisely.

Tickets can be found of the Orlando Shakespeare Theater website.

 

Henry VI Part 3: The Rise of Richard, First Pass

Posted on by Thor

With the Henry VI Part 3: The Rise of Richard  poster I did for the Orlando Shakes, I had an advantage in that the actor for Richard, Mark McClain Wilson, would likely reprise the roll in the next season. For once I knew who to paint for the poster. The Shakes was kind enough to supply reference of Mark from a previous production.

The main thing I knew was that there would be multiple battles for the crown. I researched battle uniforms of the 1450’s period and chose these thick tan tunics with the crosses on them. Well the crosses were really off mark. This was not a show about a holy war. The costume would have to change.

The Bare Bard Series which started in 2019 with Richard II and continued through Henry IV Part 1, Henry VI Part 2, and Henry V as well as Henry IV Part 1, Henry IV Part 2 and Herny V in 2003. Then the pandemic slowed down the series for a bit. The War of the Roses revived the series followed by Henry VI Part 1; Joan of Arc, Henry VI Part 2: She Wolf of France and now Henry VI Part 3: The Rise of Richard. Next season Richard III: The Bottled Spider completes the series.

An usher in the theater was saying she was surprised that there were so many shows in the War of The Roses series. She thought there was only 1. She asked if I had seen any of the other shows, and I have been along for the whole Fire and Reign series illustrating and learning new history of royal conquests.

What is unique about these shows is that there is no director, the actors block out the scenes themselves as they rehearse much as they did back in Shakespeare’s day. They also go into the costume shop to pick out their own costume for the show. Some costumes feel like they are from the 1450’s period, but others might be more modern in flavor. It all depends on how the actor decides they should look on stage. In a past show, Mark McClain Wilson had chosen a hip leather jacket to wear. Since that reflected his taste, it was suggested that I should depict him in leather.

The crown changed hands many times in this show. A complicated family tree in the program was the best way to figure out who was part of the house of York and who was part of the House of Lancaster. The House of York was represented by a white rose and house of Lancaster was represented by a red rose. I have painted many roses over that past several years.

Audience members were given a passport book in which they could paste the stickers that are handed out for each show. I don’t use the passport book. Instead, I place the stickers on my sketchbook cover which makes finding a particular show sketch very easy when I go through the sketchbook archives.

For this show I was given a red rose sticker, but secretly I was rooting for the despotic and twisted Richard who wears the white rose.

Henry VI Part 3: The Rise of Richard is now playing at the Shakes through April 19, 2026. I had a great time. Grab your tickets today!