Queen Elizabeth replays a tape of her husband King Edward’s band as she obsesses over his failing health. Her brother, Lord Rivers, tries to comfort her, as do her two sons from a previous marriage, Gray and Dorset. She tells them that the sons she conceived with Edward are still too young to rule, and that if her husband dies, the throne will go to Richard until the oldest son comes of age, putting her safety in jeopardy. Buckingham and Derby arrive to report that King Edward’s health is improving and that he wants to make peace between Richard and Elizabeth's clans. Richard barges in with Hastings at his side, railing that he’s being disrespected and that people are telling lies about him. Elizabeth does her best to defend herself against his accusation that she put Clarence in jail and that she is vying for the throne. As they argue, the old Queen Margaret arrives unseen and listens to them from outside the house, commenting bitterly to herself about how quickly power is lost. She finally confronts the group and berates Richard for the murders of her family before cursing everyone in the room, one by one. After she departs, Catesby enters to say that King Edward wants to talk to his family. Richard, left alone, celebrates his mischief, then hires two murderers to kill his brother Clarence in the Tower. There, Clarence tells Brackenbury (the jailer) about a nightmare he had in which he drowned trying to rescue Richard and was dragged down to hell.

The PLAY ON PODCAST SERIES, “RICHARD THE THIRD”, was written by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE and translated into modern English verse by MIGDALIA CRUZ. All episodes were directed by LISA ROTHE. Radio play by CATHERINE EATON.

This podcast was recorded under a SAG-AFTRA AGREEMENT.

The cast is as follows:

MATT FRASER                  as    RICHARD THE THIRD

MIA KATIGBAK                 as    QUEEN MARGARET, CITIZEN and BLUNT

HIRAM DELGADO             as    CLARENCE, DORSET, ELY and MESSENGER

NANCY RODRIGUEZ        as    LADY ANNE, OXFORD, RIVERS and A MURDERER

RACHEL CROWL              as    QUEEN ELIZABETH, NORFOLK, and MESSENGER

SANJIT DE SILVA             as    NESS AQUINO, BUCKINGHAM, and A CITIZEN

CHARLES DUMAS            as    EDWARD, HENRY the SIXTH, STANLEY & CARDINAL

ANDY LUCIEN       as    HASTINGS, SCRIVENER, a MESSENGER and A MURDERER

GABRIELA SAKER           as    CATESBY, DUKE OF YORK and A MESSENGER

DANAYA ESPERANZA as BRAKENBURY, RATCLIFFE, LORD MAYOR, TYRREL, and  RICHMOND

ALMA CUERVO              as    DUCHESS OF YORK, SHERIFF & A MESSENGER

ELIJAH GOODFRIEND  as    PRINCE EDWARD, A PAGE, and A BOY

Casting by THE TELSEY OFFICE: KARYN CASL, CSA.

Voice and Text Coach: JULIE FOH

Original music composition, Mix and Sound Design by LINDSAY JONES. Composer, Producer, Guitars, Bass, Lead Vocals, Recording and Mix Engineer, DAVID MOLINA. EDWIN AYALA on Drums. Backup Vocals by MANUEL TRUJILLO. Sound engineering and mixing by SADAHARU YAGI. Mix Engineer and Dialogue Editor: LARRY WALSH. Podcast Mastering by GREG CORTEZ at New Monkey Studio. Coordinating Producer: TRANSCEND STREAMING (KYRA BOWIE and LEANNA KEYES). Executive Producer: MICHAEL GOODFRIEND.

The Play On Podcast Series “RICHARD THE THIRD” is produced by NEXT CHAPTER PODCASTS and is made possible by the generous support of THE HITZ FOUNDATION. Visit NEXTCHAPTERPODCASTS.COM for more about the Play On Podcast Series. Visit PLAYONSHAKESPEARE.ORG for more about Play On Shakespeare.

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