My first real recollection of seeing a stage production is that of the late Edward Earle playing Wm Shakespeare's Hamlet at the Bucks County Playhouse in 1969.  An eighth grade class field trip from the parochial school across the river in Lambertville, New Jersey had taken me to the Playhouse that afternoon.  I remember sitting in that darkened theater during the matinee performance.   The picture in my mind's eye is of Mr. Earle reclining against a low stool downstage right - alone - dressed completely in black - in his best Barrymore-esque pose.  I've wanted to act in Shakespeare ever since.

It's been my great honor and pleasure to have the opportunity to portray some of the great Shakespearean roles with some very fine acting companies in this region.  On this page you find information on many of my favorites as well as links to more in depth discussions I've included on web pages devoted to that particular show.

I'd be remiss if I didn't thank several people who have been critical to my success in pursuit of opportunities to act in Shakespeare's dramatic works.  First, to Frank Erath of Shakespeare`70, who picked me out of an audition call in 1990 to perform in my first theatrical production since high school and whose support over the years has enabled me to get an annual dose of Shakespeare "on the boards", whether those boards be under the stars or safe from the slings and arrows of outrageous weather.  Secondly to Cheryl Doyle, who saw in me the potential to handle "the Bard's biggies", and whose insight, trust, guidance and openness has allowed me to perform in a dream list of Shakepearean classics.  And finally, to my beautiful wife and the co-star of many of my favorite shows, Carol Thompson.  Without her intelligence, wit, trust and love both onstage and off, many of my on-stage accomplishments would not have been possible.

Favorite Roles

(click on the photo links to access in depth information on web pages created on this site)

George Hartpence as Richard III	Richard III
George Hartpence as Macbeth	Macbeth
George Hartpence as Hamlet	Hamlet
George Hartpence (right) as Prospero with Kyla Marie Mostello and James Petro as Miranda and Ferdinand	Prospero in The Tempest
George Hartpence as Antony with Carol Thompson as Cleopatra	Antony in Antony and Cleopatra
George Hartpence (right) as Marcus Brutus Brian Bara (left) as Cassius and Richard Applebaugh (center) as Octavius	Brutus in Julius Caesar
George Hartpence (right) as Edmund with George Reilly as Edgar	Edmund in King Lear
George Hartpence (lower left) as Antonio the Merchant of Venice with Stephen Kazakoff as Shylock and Carol Kehoe as Portia	Antonio in The Merchant of Venice
	Henry "Hotspur" Percy in Henry IV - Part One
	Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing