Brian Isaac Phillip directs Shakespeare’s prophetic tale of ambition and blood,
beginning October 14, 2011, just in time for Halloween!
Sara Clark as Lady Macbeth & Nick Rose as Macbeth. Photo by Jeanna Vella.
CINCINNATI, September 20, 2011 – Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, Cincinnati’s stage for the classics, announces a thrilling and suspenseful addition to their eighteenth season with Shakespeare’s bloody tragedy, “Macbeth”. This production features CSC Ensemble Members Sara Clark and Nick Rose. “Macbeth” is directed by Brian Isaac Phillips and opens October 14, and runs through November 20. The production is generously sponsored by Rippe & Kingston, the production design is sponsored by Champlin Architecture and the ensemble is sponsored by Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc.
“Macbeth” is a story of prophecies, madness, ambition and blood. In Shakespeare’s supernatural tragedy Macbeth (Nick Rose), the titular Lord, is led by the prophecies of three witches to conspire with his wife (Sara Clark) on an ambitious plot to rule Scotland – at any cost. But when their delusions of power result in bloodshed, Macbeth is sent into a downward spiral of madness. Tormented by visions and guilt while the price of his crimes takes its toll, what fate awaits Macbeth? Shakespeare’s chilling account of the destructively cyclical nature of dreams and nightmares comes true on CSC’s stage.
“Macbeth” features the real life husband and wife team of Nick Rose and Sara Clark. Nick Rose, a 15 year CSC ensemble member, stars as Macbeth. He has been involved with Cincinnati Shakespeare Company since the beginning in 1994. Some of his favorite roles over the past 15 years at CSC have been Romeo in “Romeo and Juliet”, Oberon in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, Oedipus in “The Oedipus Trilogy”, Jim in “The Weir”, and Timon in “Timon of Athens”. “Macbeth” also features CSC Artistic Associate and six year ensemble member Sara Clark as Lady Macbeth. She was most recently seen on stage as Margaret More in “A Man for All Seasons”. Her favorite roles at CSC include Marc Antony in “Julius Caesar”, Elizabeth Bennet in “Pride and Prejudice”, Mabel Chiltern in “An Ideal Husband” and Masha in “The Seagull”. She has also performed locally with The Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center and New Edgecliff Theatre and co-directs the CSC Groundlings program for high school students.
This production also features Brent Vimtrup as Macduff. Brent was recently nominated for a New York Innovative Theatre Award (IT Awards) for Outstanding Actor in a Featured Role for his work in “Sight Unseen”, which was produced by InProximity Theatre Company. This is his third show at CSC after his performance as the Duke of Norfolk in “A Man for All Seasons” and Trevor in “Bedroom Farce” this summer.
The cast is also joined by two child actors for “Macbeth”, Owen Cummings and Demecos Hill. Owen Cummings is a 2nd grader at the New School Montessori School and is playing Macduff’s son. Demecos Hill is a 7th grader at St. Peter Claver Latin School for Boys and is playing Fleance. “Macbeth” will be the CSC debut for both of the boys.
This production is directed by Brian Isaac Phillips, CSC’s Producing Artistic Director, who has directed this season’s successful runs of “A Man for All Seasons” and “Bedroom Farce”. He also helmed last season’s productions of “Blithe Spirit”, “Dracula”, “The Life and Death of King John”, “The Handmaid’s Tale” (world premiere) and “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”. Brian says of “Macbeth”, “We made a conscious choice to approach the play as if it will be the first time anyone has ever seen or heard of it. In doing this, we hope to give those who have seen other productions of the play a fresh perspective or a new outlook on the story. And we hope to move those audience members and students who are having their first experience with Shakespeare and ‘Macbeth’. This is also our only show this season that is set in the present day. By placing the story in 2011 Scotland the audience will relate to some aspects of the setting and also be slightly removed. This will allow them to truly delve into the more sinister aspects of the play.”
The setting for “Macbeth” will be a modern day war-torn Scotland. New comer costume designer Amy Rawe says she “was inspired by modern Scottish military uniforms and how the old world influences Scottish traditions. I had a lot of fun developing these costumes especially the witches that embody war-torn yet earthy themes and have a great deal of mystery and suspense about them.” Andrew Hungerford returns to design the set and lights and has created a world full of surprising details that push the envelope of what is expected on a live theater stage. Original music composed by sound designer Cary Davenport will be coupled with the use of special effects and technology, including projections, unnatural echoes and haze to plunge the audience even deeper into this frenetic world.
This performance has already set records for the number of school groups scheduled for class trips to attend one of 13 Educational Matinees that CSC is offering during the school day. Over 2,000 local students will be attending “Macbeth” at CSC to enhance their studies of the play and/or Shakespeare in their classrooms. Education and outreach continues to be an important cornerstone of CSC’s mission of “bringing the classics to life for audiences of all ages”.
Special events for “Macbeth” include something for everyone. The popular Teen Night will return on Friday, October 28 before the evening performance of “Macbeth”. Local teens are invited to wear costumes and join us for games and snacks in the lobby. Call 513.381.2273 x.3202 for tickets. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company will hold its second annual GLBT Night on Friday, November 4, 2011. The evening begins with a wine and cheese reception in the theatre lobby at 6:00 pm followed by a 7:30 pm performance “Macbeth”. The celebration culminates in a post show party at Below Zero Lounge. Admission for GLBT Night is $50 per person. This includes one ticket to the show and both the pre-show and post-show receptions. Contact the box office for more details.
Performances of “Macbeth” are scheduled from October 14- November 20 on Thursday, Friday & Saturday evenings at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2pm. Preview performances are on October 12 & 13 and tickets are $14. No performance on Sunday October 16. The theater is located at 719 Race Street, downtown Cincinnati, two blocks west of the Aronoff Center. Single ticket prices range from $22-$28 on Thursday Nights and Sunday Matinees and from $26-$32 on Friday and Saturday Nights. Ticketing fees may apply. Visa, Discover, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted. Discounts are available for students, seniors and groups as well as Enjoy the Arts and AAA members. This production is part of CSC’s 2011-2012 subscription package. To purchase tickets or for more information, call the CSC Box Office at 513.381.BARD (2273) ext. 1, or go online at http://www.cincyshakes.com. All subscription packages and single tickets for Season 18 are on sale now.
About Season 18:
Season 18 is generously sponsored by The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company receives operating support from The Ohio Arts Council and is supported, in part, by the generosity of thousands of individuals and businesses that give annually to ArtsWave, formerly the Fine Arts Fund. The season design sponsor is Judge Mark Painter. Creative Services are provided by Possible Worldwide.
About Cincinnati Shakespeare Company:
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is a professional theatre company dedicated to bringing Shakespeare and the classics to life for audiences of all ages. Located in the heart of downtown Cincinnati, CSC produces eight main stage productions each season at its home on Race Street. CSC employs a resident company of actors and artists who live and work in Cincinnati year-round, and performs on a Small Professional Theatre contract with Actors’ Equity Association. CSC is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductible.
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