Meet the Cast of MACDEATH!
As a playwright, I loved seeing my characters come alive, to see how the director visualized them, and how the actors heard their voices. Who knew I’d have the same chance with a novel? At rehearsal for our book launch/Fertile Ground Theater Festival performance (coming up on January 22nd!), I met the actors from Portland Actors Ensemble (the free-Shakespeare-in-the-park folks) who will play the main characters in Macdeath. I was blown away! Sure, it is my book we’re talking about, but I’m also a theater director and picky about casting. Without further ado, I introduce you to the marvelous cast of Macdeath!
Ivy Meadows – An actress,private investigator in-training, and the star of Macdeath. Ivy’s real name is Olive Ziegwart.
“My father used to tell us that Ziegwart meant ‘victory nipple’ in German. I don’t why he thought that would make us feel better.”
Played by, well, me. I couldn’t resist.
Simon – A former movie star and Royal Shakespearean. After decades of drinking and womanizing, he’s trying to get his career back on track by auditioning for the role of Duncan in Phoenix Shakespeare Theater’s production of Macbeth.
“My apologies for my tardy arrival. My AA meeting ran a bit late.”
Brian MacEwan has performed with theatre companies in Santa Fe NM, Ashland OR, and Los Angeles CA in productions including Brecht’s Threepenny Opera and Orchids in the Moonlight by Carlos Fuentes. He is a permanent company member of TheaterWork in Santa Fe and Theatre West in Los Angeles. He has a high regard of, long history with, and passion for the works of William Shakespeare.
Bill Boxer (The Face of Channel Ten) – An aging newscaster who’s concerned that his broadcasting career may be winding down. He’d kill for a new career in theater. Also auditioning for Duncan.
“Horrible lighting in here, too. Yes, just a rehearsal room, but fluorescents? Even the young men look vaguely green. Good thing I wore bronzer.”
An ‘alumnus’ of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Curt Hanson has been acting in Portland since 1973 in such parts as Governor Danforth in The Crucible, Prospero in The Tempest, Baron Van Swieten in Amadeus and Malvolio in Twelfth Night. Included, this century, is his work as James Tyrone, Sr. in Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Lear in King Lear and Polonius in Hamlet. A member of SAG-AFTRA, Curt has appeared in supporting roles in fifteen TV / film productions, including “Mr. Perkins” in the feature film The Goonies and as Judge Tim Alexander in the NBC mini-series Killing at Hellsgate.
Jason – Macbeth’s titular character. “The perfect male animal,” he’s everyone’s love interest, and well-cast as the man who hungers for power.
“There’s something about it, about taking that walk to the dark side. When I kill Duncan, even though it’s offstage, I can feel the power and rawness of it, smell fear and sweat and the metallic scent of blood.”
Patrick J. Cox is an actor/producer from Los Angeles and a veteran of over 20 productions in Shakespeare’s canon. Actor credits: Cassius in Julius Caesar, Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew, Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Diomedes in Cressida, Banquo in Macbeth, and Albany in King Lear. Patrick is the Operations Director for Portland Actors Ensemble.
Edward – The show’s director. He’s decided to set this production of the Scottish play in a 1930’s traveling circus.
“I did consider making our hero a pirate and setting the whole thing at sea, but I feel this is much more original, don’t you?”
Michael Godsey is no stranger to Portland–area Shakespeare fans. Michael is the Artistic Director of Portland Actors Ensemble, this year celebrating its 46th season of free Shakespeare-in-the-Parks. He has appeared for PAE as Bottom in last summer’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Brutus in Julius Caesar and Cornwall in King Lear, among others. He has also appeared in outdoor Shakespeare shows with Post5 and Willamette Shakespeare. Dr. Godsey also is a structural biochemist specializing in protein X-ray crystallography, teaches biochemistry and acting as a professor at Concordia University.
Genevieve – The actress playing Lady Macbeth. Beautiful and a little too intense.
“My reputation as a Method actor is well-known. The Republic even did a story on me once, when I was in Samuel Beckett’s Endgame. They seemed to think my preparation extreme, but how else could I truly understand Nell without living in a garbage can, as she did?”
Sarah Keyes Chang earned her MFA degree in Shakespeare and Performance from Mary Baldwin College and the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, VA. Favorite past roles include Rosalind in As You Like It, Marie Leroux in Is He Dead?, Prince Arthur in Shakespeare’s King John, and Mayella Ewell in To Kill a Mockingbird. She is also a proud member of the Original Practice Shakespeare Festival core company here in Portland. When not performing, Sarah teaches Shakespeare at an online high school. She is very excited to participate in this staged reading of Macdeath!
Linda – The stage manager. Efficient and no-nonsense, she doesn’t let her personal feelings get in the way of running the theater.
“My old friend Simon. He…threw up on my shoes.”
Jennifer Zubernick hails from Connecticut and earned her Theatre Arts degree at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania. Since then she has worked with theatre companies in New York, Virginia, Minnesota, Ohio, Michigan and Oregon, as well as several national tours that have brought her all over the U.S. She is thrilled to be a part of this exciting show for Fertile Ground and in bringing Macdeath to life!
