Macbeth Show Synopsis

Macbeth and Banquo, generals of King Duncan, return victorious from battle when they are hailed by three witches who predict that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor and then King of Scotland, and Banquo’s descendants will one day be kings.

The first part of the prophecy is fulfilled when Duncan rewards Macbeth’s loyal service. Encouraged by this, Lady Macbeth persuades her husband to murder the king.

Macbeth, now king, has Banquo murdered to secure his own position.

In England, Duncan’s son, Malcolm raises an army to march against Macbeth. However, Macbeth, armed with the witches’ prophecy, believes that he is invincible.

Keri Anderson (Witch/Murderer) is making her CSC debut. She is a junior BFA Acting and BA Arts Administration double major at Elon University.Past Elon credits include: Concord Floral (#5 (Rosa Mundi)) and Sense and Sensibility (Ms. Dashwood u/s & Margaret u/s).

Greg Burgess (Duncan/Siward) is a CSC Company Member, and has performed in CSC’s productions of Hamlet (2023) Twelfth Night (2022), Henry IV, Parts 1 & 2; The Winter’s Tale; The Fantasticks; Richard III (2017 and 2012); Anne of the Thousand Days; Wild Oats; A Christmas Carol (2014-2022); Titus Andronicus (2015); The Importance of Being Earnest; A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2014 and 2010); As You Like It; The Merry Wives of Windsor; The Taming of the Shrew (2017 and 2013); and The Merchant of Venice, among many others. His training includes The Martin Blank Studio, the Shakespeare Theater, and Howard University.

Lloyd Ekpe (Macduff) is a member of CSC’S Black Classical Acting Ensemble and returns after previously performing in the student matinee of Macbeth (2022), and A Raisin in the Sun (2022). His previous credits include: A Civil War Christmas at the Strand Theatre, Girls on a Dirt Pile as a part of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. He was nominated for the Irene Ryan Acting Award and won 'Outstanding Performance in a Play Reading'.

Christen Gross (Donalbain/Young Siward) is making her CSC debut. Her recent credits include; Madam in The Maids (Salisbury University), Father Alaxanderios in Mama Mia (Salisbury University), and Mrs. Boyle in Mouse Trap (Open Space Arts). She is a Senior at Salisbury University who will be receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre Performance.

DeJeanette Horne (Macbeth) is returning to Chesapeake Shakespeare Company. Prior CSC productions include Hamlet (2023) Henry V (2022) and The Adventures of Pericles (2021); Other regional performances include This Girl Laughs, This Girls Cries, This Girl Does Nothing (Theater Alliance); Elegies: A Song Cycle (Keegan Theatre); The Outsiders (Keegan Theatre); Sophisticated New Ones (Unexpected Stage); Blue Door (Perisphere Theater); My Children! My Africa! (Washington Stage Guild); Fences (Little Theater of Alexander); The Infinite Tales (4615 Theatre Company); West by God (Keegan Theatre); God of Carnage (Keegan Theatre); and others.

Lauren Jackson (Banquo/Lady Macduff/Lennox) returns to CSC after previously performing in A Christmas Carol (2022). Lauren is a actor, director, writer, songstress, and storyteller. She has contributed to the Baltimore theatre scene—both as an ensemble member at Single Carrot Theatre (2017-2022) and as a founding member of Two Strikes Theatre Collective, a theatre company founded by and for Black Women. Recently, she assistant directed the regional premiere of Eureka Day at Asolo Repertory Theatre. Past performances include Phoebe in Phoebe in Winter (Single Carrot, City Paper Best Actor 2016), Zoë in The Niceties (Everyman Theatre: Salon Series), and Capulet Servant/Ensemble in Romeo & Juliet (Shakespeare Theatre Co). 

Shaquan Pearson (Malcolm) is a member of CSC’s Black Classical Acting Ensemble and is returning after previously appearing in their  Macbeth school matinee (2022), Much Ado About Nothing (2022) and  Romeo and Juliet  student matinee (2020). His regional credits include: Frankenstein (The Strand Theater Company) and  We Broke Up. (Single Carrot Theater). He received his BFA from University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) and AA in Theatre Performance from Montgomery College.

Jasmine Proctor (Ross) is making her CSC debut. Jasmine is a DC based actor, storyteller and professional facilitator of laughter from Southern MD. Former credits include: Once on this Island (Constellation Theatre Company), Turn of the Screw (Next Stop Theatre Company), and Love Like Tuesday (Faction of Fools Theatre Company)

Jordan Stanford (Third Witch/Seyton/Old Man) is making her CSC acting debut. Acting credits of hers include A Sacred Song of Thebes (The Space: Irondale (NY)), Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed (Drama Learning Center) and We Could Be Heroes (Howard Community College)

Dawn Thomas Reidy (Lady Macbeth/Hecate) previously appeared in CSC's Hamlet (2023), Henry V (2022), A Raisin in the Sun (2022) and Measure for Measure (2020). She is a CSC Production Associate, Teaching Artist, and a member of CSC's Black Classical Acting Ensemble. She also directs and loves puppeteering. Regional credits include The Few, Romeo and Juliet, Danny Boy, The Lady in the Van, and Candy & Dorothy (Unexpected Stage Company); Our Black Death, Phaeton (Taffety Punk Theatre Company); Overruled (Washington Stage Guild); and How the Other Half Loves and The Boys Next Door (Brown County Playhouse). She also works as a teaching artist with Everyman Theatre and Baltimore Shakespeare Factory. Dawn holds a BFA in Acting from UMBC and an MFA in Acting from Indiana University.

Mecca Verdell (Witch/Porter) is a member of CSC's Black Classical Acting Ensemble and is returning after previously performing in their student matinees of Romeo and Juliet (2021-2022) and Macbeth (2022). Mecca 'Meccamorphosis' Verdell is an Internationally winning spoken word poet, teaching artist, and actor for film and Theatre (locally and Off broadway). Mecca uses their own experiences to speak on the 'soft' and 'pink' of Black culture. As a teacher, she uses poetry to connect teachers and students to create emotionally intelligent responses in an academic space. Mecca has molded poetry for marketing and commercials as a Visit Baltimore Ambassador or National Education Association performer. She has been performing at universities, embassies, and theaters showing audiences how poetry can peek into the spirit and turn healing into ritual. Her debut book, The Things I've Unlearned, exemplifies that process.

Jabari Williams (Fleance/Young Macduff/Doctor) is making his second appearance in CSC as an intern, after previously appearing in Much Ado About Nothing (2022). During his tenure at DeSales University, he has been in main stage productions such as As You Like It (Charles), Pride and Prejudice (understudy, Wickham), Civil War Christmas (Moses, Fredrick, George) and Trojan Women (Greek Solider). Jabari has also been in student films such as, Sure Tomorrow, which won best “overall film” at the 2022 Desales University Film Festival (DUFF).

Lauren Davis (Director) hails from Baltimore and is proud to be directing Macbeth. Most recently she directed the players of Olive Branch and Laurel Crown in a production of To Be A Solider. She is also a playwright and an actress. Her acting credits include Love's Labour's Lost, Romeo and Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew, and Antony and Cleopatra (Chesapeake Shakespeare Company); Acoustic Rooster and the Banyard Boogie: Starring Indigo Blume, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (The Kennedy Center); Corduroy, Akeelah and the Bee, Shrek the Musical, The Scarecrow and His Servant, Cinderella and Charlotte’s Web (Childrens Theatre Company);  Oliver! (Theater Latté Da); Marcus; or the Secret of Sweet (Pillsbury House Theatre/Guthrie Theater); Greensboro Four and American Song Book (The Smithsonian). Television credits include America’s Most Wanted (Lifetime). She holds an M.F.A. from the Catholic University of America and a theater degree from Frostburg State. She looks forward to her upcoming project with The Kennedy Center. She would like to thank God and her family for their love and support.

Sarah Curnoles (Production Manager) stage managed with CSC for Much Ado About Nothing, The Importance of Being Earnest, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It, Dracula, A Doll’s House, The Tempest, and Henry V. Before working at CSC, she was self-employed as a life coach. She has also worked at Center Stage as the Executive Assistant to the Artistic and Managing Directors. Sarah created and directed A Fool’s Paradise: 30 Shakespeare Scenes in 60 Minutes which was performed at the Baltimore Fringe Festival, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, The Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, and various stages around Baltimore.

Lauren Engler (Stage Manager) a CSC Touchstone Company Member, has stage managed CSC’s productions of The Adventures of Pericles (2021), Loves Labour’s Lost (2019), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2018) and has performed with CSC in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2014), A Comedy of Errors (2015), and A Christmas Carol (2017).  Locally, Lauren has performed in Do or Die Productions’ Poe’s Last Stanza, Cohesion Theatre Company’s Coriolanus, and StillPointe Theatre’s Sweeney Todd. She also stage manages at the Maryland Renaissance Festival. Lauren holds a BA in Performance Theater and Studio Art from High Point University.

Dan O'Brien (Technical Director/Set & Lighting Designer) is a founding member of CSC. Daniel has performed, designed scenery, lights, and served as Technical Director for many productions (among other jobs too numerous to name). He oversaw the construction of CSC’s theatre in Baltimore and designed the sets and lighting for Macbeth (2016); for the inaugural season plays A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Richard II; Romeo and Juliet (2015-2019); A Christmas Carol (2014-2019), and many others.

Kristina Lambdin (Costume Designer) won the Broadway World Best Costume Design award for her designs for A Christmas Carol (2016). Some of her costuming credits with CSC include Dracula (2013 and 2019); The Diary of Anne Frank; She Stoops to Conquer; Alice in Wonderland; Red Velvet; Anne of the Thousand Days; The Fantasticks; Macbeth (2016); A Christmas Carol (2014-2018); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2005, 2011 and 2014); The Importance of Being Earnest; The Taming of the Shrew (2006 and 2013); Romeo and Juliet (2003, 2012, and student matinees 2015-2019); A Doll’s House; As You Like It (Broadway World Best of Baltimore Award); and The Country Wife. Broadway World named her as a top artist of the 2007 Baltimore Theatre, and she won the Greater Baltimore Theater Award for A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2005). For more than a decade, she served as the Costume Supervisor for the Baltimore Opera Company and then Lyric Opera Baltimore.

Matthew Datcher (Sound Designer) No bio available.

Sierra Ho (Props Designer) is a contemporary sculptor, fabricator, and scenic designer who lives and works in Baltimore, Maryland. A child of refugees, her work often recognizes the story of the underdog and the minority. Her distinctive personal style is gestural yet precise, using an array of mediums both traditional and unconventional. Textures and graphic, gestural shapes are the backbone of Ho's work, whether it be a small sculpture, or the entire world built around a character. Her expertise in material, her irreverent humor, and her academic understanding of conceptual art make her a well known name in the Baltimore area. 

Grace Srinivasan (Music Director) has programmed and arranged the music for CSC productions since 2016 as Resident Music Director. A soprano who performs a wide-ranging repertoire throughout the region, she appeared as a soloist in a program of works inspired by Shakespeare’s plays, If Music Be the Food of Love, with CSC artists, the Peabody Baroque Band, and the Peabody Renaissance Ensemble. Grace holds a master’s degree in vocal performance from the Peabody Conservatory and sings professionally at St. Stephen Martyr Church and the National Cathedral.

Gerrad Alex Taylor (Fight Choreographer) is an award-winning director and actor that has worked with regional theatres and educational institutions across the country. In 2021 he was named one of Baltimore's "40 Under 40" by the Washington Business Journal. Gerrad currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Theatre at UMBC and one of the leaders for CSC’s Black Classical Acting Ensemble. He holds a BA in Neuroscience from Johns Hopkins University and an MFA in Performance from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He is a member of the Actors’ Equity Association and the Society of American Fight Directors. (he/him/his)

Mari Andrea Travis (Movement Choreographer) is making her debut at CSC. Mari is a Baltimore native, director, choreographer, and dance captain. Her regional choreography credits include; Twelfth Night (Baltimore Center Stage), The Children (Studio Theatre), King Lear and Julius Caesar (Fools and Madmen); Luther, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Colorblind: The Katrina Monologues, Spell #7 (Arena Players, Inc.); The Wiz, Antigone, Black Nativity, The Odyssey, Miss Ever’s Boys, Dreamgirls (Morgan State University). Her regional Dance Captain credits include; PYG: Or The Mis-Education of Dorian Belle (Studio Theatre). She holds a BFA from Morgan State University.

Sierra Young (Intimacy Director) is making her CSC debut. Sierra is the Resident Fight and Intimacy Director for Mosaic Theater Company and is an active member of the SAFD, IDC, and SDC. Recent DC credits: One in Two, Unseen, Bars and Measures, and The Till Trilogy at Mosaic Theater Company; Shout Sister Shout! at Ford’s Theatre; King Lear and Red Velvet at Shakespeare Theatre Company; and Ain’t No Mo’ at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. Recent Regional credits: Ain’t No Mo’ at Baltimore Center Stage; and The Joy That Carries You and A.D. 16 at Olney Theatre Center. Website: sierrayoung.org.

Chester Stacy (Associate Technical Director) has designed, built, and painted many CSC productions, including Alice in Wonderland, The Fantasticks, Red Velvet, and Titus Andronicus; and for Baltimore Center Stage’s Thoughts of a Colored Man and Shakespeare in Love.  Chester Creates LLC, has provided film production design for The Night Watchmen, set decoration for House of Cards and The Wire; and environmental graphics for Crunch Fitness, Royal Caribbean, Bmore Greek Grill, and Healthy Highlandtown.

Ben Lambert (Assistant Director) is returning to CSC after text/voice coaching last year’s production of Much Ado About Nothing. Other credits include Shakespeare & Company, Gloucester Stage Company, and Speakeasy Stage. He is a Laban Movement Analyst and Associate Professor of Acting and Directing at James Madison University.

Kris Dibastiani (Assistant Stage Manager) returns to CSC after previous work as child minder for A Christmas Carol. Recent credits include Young Playwrights Festival 2023, Tiny Beautiful Things (Baltimore Center Stage); William Shakespeare’s Long Lost First Play: Abridged, Lizzie, Stage Kiss (Stagedoor Manor); A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Opera A Capella, The Wolves, and Fugitive Songs (TU). Education: Towson University, B.S. Theatre Arts.

Hannah Brill (Wardrobe Supervisor) is a costume and lighting designer from Baltimore. She is the Assistant Costume Shop manager for Towson University’s Department of Theatre Arts. Hannah is returning to CSC as wardrobe manager (Hamlet, A Christmas Carol, Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing, Henry V, Alice In Wonderland). Other recent work includes costume design for TU Dance Company shows Legacy and Surging (Towson University), Marie Antoinette and the Magical Negroes (Single Carrot Theatre), The First Thing That Happens (Acme Corporation), and lighting design for Rachel (Rapid Lemon Productions.)

Colin Maher (Tech Manager) is making is Technical debut with CSC this summer! He has previous technical experience working in film, at UMBC, and as an over-hire carpenter at various theatres. Other than tech, he has acted with CSC in the 2023 student matinée production of Romeo and Juliet (Tybalt, and others).

Mandy Benedix (Covid Safety Manager) previously worked as the Audience Relations and Box Office Manager at Baltimore CenterStage. She graduated from University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a BFA in Theater. She has had the pleasure of living and working in Chicago and New York prior to calling Baltimore her home.

Pamela Forton (Senior House Manager) supports the Box Office and coordinates many of the front-of-house and patron services that make audiences feel welcome in our beautiful theater and at the Ruins.

Avelina Rivezzo-Weber (Directing Intern) is making her CSC debut this summer. She is a rising senior currently studying to receive her BA in Theater at Drew University. Her most recent performing credits include Iphiengia in Aulis (Tectonic Theater Project and Drew University) and Working the Musical (Drew University). In addition to performing her credits include Stage Manager, After/Life: Detroit ‘67 (Drew University) and Choreographer/Assistant Director, The Mediated Body and Choice (Drew University).

Maria Wraback (Stage Management Intern) is making her CSC debut. She is currently studying B.F.A  Acting for Theatre, Film, and TV at the Catholic University of America. She has performed onstage in Rejoicing in Broken Pieces and Prometheus Burning (Catholic University), as well as New Voices: Reconnecting (Olney Theatre Center).

LEADERSHIP

Ian Gallanar (Founding Artistic Director, A Christmas Carol Adaptor) In addition to founding the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company in 2002, Ian has worked as a professional actor, director, and writer for more than 150 professional productions. He has directed 40 productions for CSC. Previously, Ian has served as Artistic Director for the National Theatre for Children, Minnesota Shakespeare in the Park, and the Repertory Theater of America. Ian is a proud member of the distinguished National Theatre Conference and the Dramatists Guild of America; a Helen Hayes Tribute Award, Telly Award, and Howie Award (Howard County Arts Council) winner. He is the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he is a Member of the College of Fine Arts Advancement Council. He is Immediate Past President of the international Shakespeare Theatre Association, an organization for professional Shakespeare companies around the globe.

Lesley Malin (Producing Executive Director) is a founder of the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, and served as its Executive Director since 2003. She managed CSC’s building renovation of an 1885 bank into our modern Shakespeare playhouse as well as the associated $6.7 million capital campaign. She has performed in 28 CSC productions and previously in New York. She was, for 20 years, Vice President of the Board of Trustees of The Lark, the landmark new play development center in New York City, where she earlier was Managing Director. She served for five years on the Executive Committee of the international Shakespeare Theatre Association and organized its annual conference that CSC hosted in Baltimore in 2017. She is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, NYU’s Arts Management program, Leadership Howard County, and LEADERship Baltimore (2018).

CSC's Black Classical Acting Ensemble (BCAE) was established in 2021 and is an affinity space and incubator at Chesapeake Shakespeare Company for Black artists to find and nurture their authentic voices in the classical drama, while centering and treasuring their experiences and opinions as Black Americans.

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