F&M Stories
Green Room Shakespeare Play Links Past and Present
Thespians of all stripes will delight in an upcoming Shakespeare performance taking place at Franklin & Marshall College’s historic Green Room Theatre. Lancaster Shakespeare Theatre presents “Henry IV, Part 1,” from May 22 to 31. See times and ticketing information.
The production is directed by F&M’s very own Justin Hopkins ’07, writing center director and senior teaching professor of English.
While contemporary in nature, the play will offer a historic chance to witness one of the last Green Room performances before it undergoes an exciting transformation. The theatre will soon be rededicated as the James Lapine Theater, a tribute to one of F&M’s most decorated and accomplished performing arts graduates.
The restoration and renaming of the theater is made possible, in part, by an anonymous $1 million gift to support a significant renovation of the existing performance space and provide programmatic support for theatre and dance performances and events.
Riotously funny and exquisitely stirring, “Henry IV, Part 1” explores honor, loyalty, and the path from youthful indiscretion to royal power. An exclusive May 30 reading of Shakespeare’s “Richard II” will give a rare opportunity for audiences to attend both plays, acted by the same company, on the same day.
The production will appeal to bardolaters and newer audiences alike. “Our production is very contemporary both in setting and in the delivery of the verse,” Hopkins said. “It’s modern dress for the most part, although we do have some Renaissance gestures, hints, costume pieces, and props.”
“Even if the vocabulary and the references seem unfamiliar, the actors make them so funny and so relevant,” he added.
The production also features alumni Greg Davies ’07, Vienna Greenlee-Brown ’26, and Jacob Sikorski, F&M lighting and scenic design artist and adjunct instructor.
This isn’t the first time these popular plays were performed in the Green Room. A Nov. 1971 production starred late big-screen actor Treat Williams ’73 as Prince Hal and was directed by beloved late professor Ed Brubaker ’49.
Lancaster Shakespeare Theatre presents “Henry IV, Part 1,” from May 22 to 31 at F&M's Green Room Theatre. Art by Joanna Becker.
An exclusive May 30 reading of Shakespeare’s “Richard II” will give a rare opportunity for audiences to attend both plays, acted by the same company, on the same day. Art by Joanna Becker.
Both productions are directed by F&M's very own Justin Hopkins ’07, writing center director and senior teaching professor of English (right).
“Our production is very contemporary both in setting and in the delivery of the verse,” Hopkins said.
“It’s modern dress for the most part, although we do have some Renaissance gestures, hints, costume pieces, and props,” he added.
Lancaster: An Integral Educational Partner
Diplomats don’t simply live in Lancaster — we are intricately woven into the fabric of our city. We value collaborations with local organizations like Lancaster Shakespeare Theatre, which provide vital opportunities for our students and community to gather, learn, and engage.
Experience Lancaster »Related Articles
September 30, 2026
Patricia E. Harris '77 to Receive Inaugural Benjamin Franklin Distinguished Innovator Award
This fall, Franklin & Marshall College will debut a new honor and celebrate the career and leadership of one of its most accomplished graduates: Patricia E. Harris '77, Bloomberg Philanthropies CEO, former first deputy mayor of New York City, and Trustee Emerita.
September 28, 2026
Alum’s $1 Million Gift to Construct The Arnold Family Track
For Michael “Mike” Arnold ’08, the track where he competed as a Franklin & Marshall student-athlete reflects the transformative power of Division III athletics programs at scholar-focused institutions — and the kind of lasting impact he hopes to create for future generations of student-athletes.
September 23, 2026
F&M Joins Project Pericles, Amplifying Community Partnerships in Lancaster
Franklin & Marshall has been selected to join Project Pericles, an honor that underscores the College’s commitment to fostering meaningful impact in its home city of Lancaster.