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Synopses of This Year's Productions
The following synopses take into account any casting choices which have been made for this year's productions.

Richard III

After a long civil war between the royal families of York and Lancaster, England enjoys a period of peace under King Edward IV. But Edward’s younger brother, Richard, resents Edward’s power and decides to kill anyone he has to in order to become king.

Richard begins his campaign for the throne. He manipulates Lady Anne into marrying him, even though she knows he murdered her first husband. He has his own older brother, Clarence, executed, and shifts the blame onto his ailing brother King Edward in order to accelerate Edward’s death. After King Edward dies, Richard becomes lord protector of England—which merely amounts to being the figure in charge until the elder of Edward’s two sons grows up. Next Richard kills the court noblemen who are loyal to the princes, and then has the boys’ relatives on their mother’s side—the powerful kinsmen of Edward’s wife, Queen Elizabeth —arrested and executed. Richard then imprisons the young princes in the Tower and, in his bloodiest move yet, sends hired murderers to kill both children. By this time, Richard’s reign of terror has caused the common people of England to fear and loathe him, and he has alienated nearly all the noblemen of the court. When rumors start to circulate about another challenger to the throne, Richmond, who is gathering forces in France, noblemen defect in droves to join his forces.

Richard, in the meantime, tries to consolidate his power. He has his wife, Queen Anne, murdered, so that he can marry young Elizabeth, the daughter of the former Queen Elizabeth and the dead King Edward. Though young Elizabeth is his niece, the alliance would secure his claim to the throne. Nevertheless, Richard has begun to lose control of events and Queen Elizabeth manages to stall the wedding.

Richmond invades England. The night before the battle that will decide everything, Richard has a terrible dream in which the ghosts of all the people he has murdered appear and curse him, telling him that he will die the next day. In the battle on the following morning, Richard is killed, the new king is betrothed to young Elizabeth in order to unite the warring houses of Lancaster and York.

As You Like It

Duke Senior's throne has been usurped by his brother, Duke Frederick. Duke Senior has fled to the Forest of Arden with several loyal followers, leaving his daughter, Rosalind, at court who is allowed to remain because of her inseparable friendship with Frederick's own daughter, Celia.

Oliver and Orlando's father, Sir Rowland de Bois, has recently died and left the majority of his estate to Oliver who Sir Rowland instructed to take good care of his brother. Oliver refuses this and, when Charles, a wrestler, warns Oliver of a rumor that Orlando plans to challenge Charles to a fight, Oliver convinces the wrestler that Orlando is a dishonorable man, inspiring Charles to vow to pummel Orlando.

Rosalind and Celia witness Orlando defeat Charles which enrages Oliver who plots against Orlando's life. Orlando and Rosalind instantly fall in love, though Rosalind keeps this secret from everyone but Celia. Orlando flees for the safety of the Forest of Arden.

Duke Frederick has a change of heart regarding Rosalind and banishes her as well. She also flees to the Forest of Arden, accompanied by Celia and Touchstone, the court jester. All three assume disguises with Rosalind taking on that of a young man named Ganymede and Celia disguises herself as a country shepherdess.

Duke Frederick is furious at his daughter’s disappearance, and orders Oliver to lead a manhunt to find her, threatening to confiscate Oliver’s lands and property should they fail.

Rosalind and Celia arrive in the forest in disguise and meet a lovesick young shepherd named Silvius who pines away for the disdainful Phoebe who, in turn, falls in love with Ganymede. Duke Senior's men continue their residence in the forest as they await their return to court. One of Senior's men, the melancholy Jacques, meets Touchstone in the forest and, delighted by the jester's foolish wisdom, regales the men from court with the wisdom he has learned about the state of the world and man's role in it.

Soon Rosalind runs into the equally lovesick Orlando who has been posting love poems to Rosalind to every tree. Thinking she's a young man, Orlando confides in Rosalind about his love-sickness. Rosalind, as Ganymede, promises to cure Orlando if he agrees to pretend that Ganymede is Rosalind and promises to come woo her every day. Orlando agrees and the love lessons begin.

One day, Orlando fails to show up for his tutorial with Ganymede. Oliver appears and explains how Orlando stumbled upon him being attacked by a lioness and saved him. Oliver and Celia, still in disguise, fall instantly in love. Phoebe becomes increasingly insistent in her pursuit of Ganymede, and Orlando grows tired of pretending that a boy is his dear Rosalind. Rosalind decides to end the charade and, through a witty vow of marriage among all parties that will make sure everyone ends up with the right person, makes everyone agree to meet the next day for the wedding.

The day of the wedding arrives and Rosalind gathers the various couples. Rosalind, still disguised as Ganymede, reminds the lovers of their various vows. Rosalind leaves with the disguised Celia and the two soon return as themselves. The festive wedding celebration is interrupted by even more festive news: Frederick changes his ways and returns the throne to Duke Senior.