Henry the VI Part 2 & 3 at CHS Nov. 15 & 16

CHATHAM — England’s bloody War of the Roses rages on the Chatham High School stage in a way only William Shakespeare can tell. The curtain rises on Henry the VI Part 2 & 3 this Friday, November 15 and Saturday, November 16 at 7:00 p.m. Bickering and backstabbing turn into all-out war as competing houses Lancaster (represented by a red rose) and York (represented by white rose) play a deadly, twisting game for the English throne. The evil in war becomes all too apparent as family bonds break and morals are cast aside in favor of power and revenge. Shows take place in the CHS auditorium, 50 Woodbridge Avenue in Chatham. Tickets are $5.00 at the door.

Directed by Lori Evans and JoJo McDonald, Chatham High School’s staging of Henry VI Part 2 & 3 is produced in partnership with the Fall Festival of Shakespeare sponsored by Shakespeare & Company. This nine-week artist-in-residency program brings professional directors, actors, and stage technicians to the school to work with students in developing a 90-minute combination of the two plays.

Senior citizens are specially invited to attend a free preview performance for students during the school day on Friday, November 15, at 12:45 p.m. Please contact Jennifer DiIorio at diiorioj@chatham.k12.ny.us to make a reservation.

Chatham’s students close out their run with a final performance on Sunday, November 24, 1:15 p.m. at Shakespeare & Company’s annual Fall Festival of Shakespeare at the Tina Packer Playhouse in Lenox, Massachusetts. Tickets there are $16 for general admission and $10 for students. Visit www.shakespeare.org to learn more.

Photo: The House of Lancaster: King Henry (Claire VanAcker) sits on the throne (for now) flanked by Queen Margaret (Heather Damia) and Prince Edward (Ian Freiermuth).