NEW YORK CITY — The sun of York is setting, and in its place, a shadow looms over the Wild Project. Following their sweeping success with the Henry VI trilogy, Atlas Shakespeare Company is concluding the Wars of the Roses with a visceral, blood-soaked production of Richard III.

Running from February 17 to March 1, this limited Off-Off-Broadway engagement promises a return to classical roots, complete with period-accurate dress and live sword-fighting. But at the center of this political storm is a performance that has been a year in the making: Zachary C. Clark as the titular villain.

A Villain Formed in the Shadows

For Clark, the role of Richard is more than just a performance; it is a culmination. Having played Richard in the company’s previous Henry VI productions, Clark has had the rare opportunity to live in the character’s skin long before he ever reached for the crown.

“It’s fun to have the full story,” Clark notes. “So much of Richard’s backstory isn’t really explored in many productions because Henry VI is rarely performed.”

This continuity allows for a Richard that is far more than a caricature of evil. Clark approaches the role—the second-largest in the Shakespearean canon after Hamlet—with an eye for the “vulnerability despite how horrible he is.” It is a psychological tightrope walk between a “self-congratulatorily sociopathic” mastermind and a man unraveling under the weight of his own ambition.

The Descent into Madness

While the first half of the play showcases a charismatic strategist outmaneuvering his “dangerously suggestible” brother, King Edward, the latter half explores a much darker territory. Clark identifies the “descent to the point of near madness” as his greatest challenge.

Key Themes Explored in This Production:

• Political Melodrama: The shifting allegiances and the desperation to retain power.
• The Weight of Curses: A world where the supernatural is as real as the steel of a blade.
• The Human Cost: A portrait of how a quest for the crown costs a man his family and, ultimately, his sanity.

Classical Craft for a Modern Audience

Founders Adriana Alter and Alexander Nero have built Atlas Shakespeare Company on the principle that the Bard’s work should be vivid, relatable, and profoundly human. By utilizing full classical dress and high-stakes choreography, the company aims to strip away the “dusty and stale” reputation Shakespeare sometimes carries.

Clark echoes this mission, stating that the primary goal is clear storytelling. “I think as long as we tell the story in a way the audience will understand, we’ve won. To keep an audience engaged and following the plot is the most important goal.”

Whether it’s the chilling delivery of Clark’s favorite line—“So wise so young, they say, do never live long”—or the sparks flying during the live combat, this production is designed to be a “cautionary tale about being careful what you wish for.”

Performance Details

• Dates: February 17 – March 1
• Venue: Wild Project, 195 East 3rd Street, NYC
• Tickets: Available at atlasshakespearecompany.com/tickets

Don’t miss the “bloodsoaked finale” of a saga that has captivated New York theatergoers for the past year. Come witness the rise—and the inevitable, crashing fall—of Shakespeare’s first great villain.