Shattering the (Stained) Glass Ceiling
THE KING’S LEGACY is a celebration of remarkable women in history told through the stories of Anne Boleyn - the second wife of King Henry VIII - and their daughter Queen Elizabeth I. The show portrays how Henry’s obsession for a son tore his country apart, and how his and Anne’s daughter unexpectedly saved them all. The musical is performed by a small troupe of Players in honor of the fortieth anniversary of Queen Elizabeth I’s celebrated reign (London, 1598) and spans thirty-three years between two story lines: Anne’s ascension and fall the present, as she forges her own path amidst Henry’s desperate attempts to obtain a son; And the future, in which a young Elizabeth grows up learning how to become a great monarch from Henry’s later wives and through her mother’s legacy.
The King’s Legacy puts the spotlight on incredible women who unapologetically shattered the stained glass ceilings of their time. It’s a story of women finding their agency in a world that tries to stamp it out, and who then change that world despite the consequences. This show uses the craft of musical theatre to uplift women’s voices in strength and blend. And with women everywhere rising up to fight for equality and leadership, this story feels more timely than ever.
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What's the News?
Zoom chat with Heather teysko!
I had the opportunity to sit down on Zoom with Heather Teysko (creator of the Renaissance English History Podcast and TudorCon) to chat about The King’s Legacy, its creation, listen to demos, talk about music, and more! Click the image below to check it out!
Media Credits:
"Teaser Video"
Footage from the Premiere Production at the Bristol Valley Theater (Naples, NY)
Artistic Director - Karin Bowersock
Associate Artistic Director - Katelyn Cantu
Direction - Chris J. Handley
Assistant Direction - Kate Rose Reynolds
Musical Direction - Annabelle Revak
Stage Management - Morgan Montgomery
Set Design - Christopher and Justin Swader
Lighting Design - Mary Ellen Stebbins Slutskiy
Costume Design - Sammi Miller
Sound Design - Rich Miller
Property Design - Ammy Roth
Cast:
Jennifer Arfsten
Hannah Karpenko
Alex M. Loucks
Tess Marshall
Leigh Martha Klinger
Bunny Baldwin
Mike Kinzer
Mark Poppleton
Michael Radi
Filmed by Boris Sapozhnikov 8/31/19 & 9/1/19
"Mistress Anne"
Music sung by:
Hannah Karpenko
Alex M. Loucks
Tess Marshall
Dialogue spoken by:
Jennifer Arfsten
Mike Kinzer
"The Sounds Of Spring"
Music sung by:
Leigh Martha Klinger
Alex M. Loucks
Michael Radi
Dialogue spoken by:
Jennifer Arfsten
Mike Kinzer
Mark Poppleton
Michael Radi
"I See"
Sung by:
JACQUE CARNAHAN: (Off-Broadway) "A Child's Christmas in Wales" at Irish Rep, "Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice" NYMF, "The Baker's Wife" at The York, "The Boyfriend" at Musicals Tonight (National Tour) "Cinderella" (Regional) Paper Mill Playhouse, Goodspeed Opera House, Baltimore Center Stage
"A Queen Of England"
Sung by:
SAMANTHA BRUCE: (Off-B'way) Luisa in "The Fantasticks" (Regional) Laurie in "Oklahoma" at Goodspeed Opera House, Johanna in "Sweeney Todd" at Denver Center, "The Royal Family" at Shakespeare Theatre of NJ, "Cyrano" at Sierra Rep.
JACQUE CARNAHAN: (Off-Broadway) "A Child's Christmas in Wales" at Irish Rep, "Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice" NYMF, "The Baker's Wife" at The York, "The Boyfriend" at Musicals Tonight (National Tour) "Cinderella" (Regional) Paper Mill Playhouse, Goodspeed Opera House, Baltimore Center Stage
JILLIAN LOUIS: (B'way) "It Shoulda Been You" (Off-B'way) "Soul Doctor" (Tour) "Cheers"
BETSY STRUXNESS: (B'way) "Hamilton" OBC, "Matilda" OBC, "Scandalous" OBC, "Leap Of Faith" OBC, "Memphis," "Wicked" (Tours) "Wicked," "All Shook Up"
The Dramatists Guild Friday Night Footlights Industry Reading
On Saturday, November 16th The King’s Legacy was performed in an Industry Reading at The Mary Rodgers Room at the Dramatists Guild in Times Square, with a phenomenal cast and featuring Teal Wicks as Anne Boleyn!
The evening was a tremendous success, and I couldn’t have been more thrilled! The room was filled and absolutely abuzz after the performance. And the constant refrain across the room was "So where to next?!"
Here was the cast list from the evening:
Teal Wicks - (B'way) Lady in "The Cher Show," Mary Barrie in "Finding Neverland," Emma Carew in "Jekyll and Hyde," Elphaba in "Wicked"
Wes Hart - (B'way) "Anastasia," "West Side Story" (National Tour) "Jersey Boys" (Off-B'way) Buckaroo in "Lucky Guy"
Jacque Carnahan - (National Tour) "Cinderella" (Off-B'way) "A Child's Christmas in Wales" at Irish Rep, "Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice" NYMF, "The Baker's Wife" at The York, "The Boyfriend" at Musicals Tonight
John Michael Dias - (B'way) "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical" (National Tour) "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical," Jersey Boys" (Chicago) "Jersey Boys"
Jillian Jameson - (National Tour) "The Sound of Music" (NY Theater) "Missing Gemini," "Close Than You Think," "The Christians" at Playwrights Horizons, "Grand Hotel"
Jillian Louis - (B'way) "It Shoulda Been You" (Off-B'way) "Soul Doctor," "Chick Flick the Musical," "Midnight Street" as Assistant Director (National Tour) "Cheers"
Mark Poppleton - (National Tour) Merlyn/King Pellinore in "Camelot," Mal Beineke in "The Addams Family," "Spring Awakening," "Man of La Mancha" (Off-B'way) "Bravo, NY!"
Lauren Weinberg - (National Tour) Adelaide in "Guys and Dolls" (NY Theater) "On The Town," "Smile" (Regional) Adelaide in "Guys and Dolls" at Olney Theatre Center, Belle in "Beauty and the Beast" at Theatre By The Sea
Bunny Baldwin - (National Tour) Molly in "Annie," "Kenny Rogers Christmas" (Regional) Susan Waverly in "White Christmas" at Ogunquit Playhouse, Young Cosette in "Les Mis" at Theatre at the Mount
The King’s Legacy at Bristol Valley Theater in 2019!
The King’s Legacy just received it’s premier production at the Bristol Valley Theater in Naples, NY this past Summer!!
August 22nd - September 1st
Click here for media, information, and audience reviews!
Other News This Fall…
The King's Legacy performed a concert of music from the show at the first ever TudorCon! On October 19th a group of familiar faces (from our Feinstein’s/54 Below concert and premiere production!) and I performed an hour of music in Lancaster, PA!
Elder News
Videos for "The Songs of Michael Radi" at Feinstein's/54 Below are NOW ONLINE!!!
Click Here!
Performers IncludeD:
Jackie Burns (B'way) Wicked, If/Then OBC, Hair (Off-B'way) Rock of Ages, Hair (Tour) If/Then, Wicked - Currently Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway!
Libby Servais (B'way) Wicked, Lysistrata Jones - Current Standby for Glinda in Wicked on Broadway!
Betsy Struxness (B'way) Hamilton OBC, Matilda OBC, Scandalous OBC, Leap Of Faith OBC, Memphis, Wicked (Tours) Wicked, All Shook Up
Jillian Louis (B'way) It Shoulda Been You (Off-B'way) Soul Doctor (Tour) Cheers
Jacque Carnahan (Off-B'way) A Child's Christmas in Wales at Irish Rep., Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, The Baker's Wife at The York, The Boyfriend at Musicals Tonight (Tour) Cinderella
Samantha Bruce (Off-B'way) Luisa in The Fantasticks (Regional) Laurie in Oklahoma! at Goodspeed Opera House, Johanna in Sweeney Todd at Denver Center, The Royal Family at Shakespeare Theatre of NJ, Cyrano at Sierra Rep.
J. Michael Zygo (B'way) School of Rock, Once OBC - Currently in School of Rock on Broadway!
Kenneth Quinney Francoeur (Off-B'way) A Child's Christmas in Wales at Irish Rep., (Tour) Memphis
Gregory Maheu (Off-Broadway) I Am Harvey Milk at Lincoln Center (Regional) Austen's Pride: A New Musical of Pride and Prejudice at Merry-Go-Round, Sunday in the Park With George at Signature Theatre
Patrick Mulryan (Off-B'way) Fiasco Theater's Into The Woods at The Roundabout Theatre, London's Menier Chocolate Factory, McCarter Theatre, and the Old Globe, Cymbeline at Fiasco Theater, Bum Phillips: All-American Opera at La Mama
Lizzie Becker: Lizzie is a private voice student of Michael Radi's at From Stage To Screen studio. She played Young Elizabeth in the Industry Reading of The King's Legacy, and she has also studied at USDAN. (Favorite Roles) Cinderella in Into The Woods, Millie in Thoroughly Modern Millie