Macbeth Playbill

Cast | Production Staff | Director’s Note | Introductions | Special Thanks

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Director’s Note

Macbeth…that’s the play set in Scotland with the witches and the evil wife who drives her husband to murder, right?

Right?

Well…it’s a bit more complicated than that. To begin, the only “original” text of Macbeth comes from the 1623 First Folio, the first collected works of Shakespeare ever published. And because Shakespeare’s acting company, The King’s Men, was behind the publication, it’s reasonable to conclude that the source material was the scripts that were still in use by that company. But Shakespeare had died seven years previously, and the company’s resident playwrights had clearly “adapted” the play during that time. In particular, there are passages in Macbeth that also appear almost verbatim in Thomas Middleton’s play The Witch. Plagiarism, or cross-promotion? There’s no way to know.

The existing text of the play has a great deal more ambiguity than we might want to admit. For example, it’s hard to see Lady Macbeth as fully evil when her husband calls her “my dearest partner of greatness” and their first scene together clearly shows the depth of their love for each other. Lady Macbeth also tells us she might be having second thoughts about her husband murdering Duncan even as he is doing so—“Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done it.” Both of them express guilt over their extreme actions—but those feelings don’t stop them.

And there’s the “witches”—or the “Weyard Sisters.” While they do tell Macbeth and Banquo what will happen to both of them, they don’t actually do anything to cause those events—that is down to the choices Macbeth and Lady Macbeth make. In fact, one of the Sisters is quite offended at having been called a “witch.” So are they witches, or are they more akin to the classical Three Fates, who know everyone’s destiny?

These questions may be open to interpretation, but the fact that Macbeth usurps Duncan’s reign by killing him is clear—as is his willingness to resort to violence against anyone he sees as an obstacle or who does not “kiss the ring.”

Macbeth seems to need no supernatural help in becoming a tyrannical, murderous ruler—and that may be the most significant theme of this play. Human history is full of stories about tyrants, and we forget that at our own risk.

Kim H. Carrell
WSU Visual and Performing Arts Faculty

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Introductions

Avery Allen she/her (Weird Sister/Murder/Seyton) is a sophomore double majoring in Communication and Spanish. This is her first show here at Worcester State but she has been doing theater since she was 11 and it is great that she can continue on in college!

Janee Bonilla she/her (Gentlewoman) has appeared in Peter and the Starcatcher and She Kills Monsters. She participated in WYSH, an acting and writing program at The Hanover Theatre, and studies Elementary Education and Disability Services.

Aiden Castillo he/him (Donalbain) is a freshman at Worcester State University majoring in Criminal Justice. At Worcester State, he is a member of Almost Off Book, WSU’s campus theatre club, and after playing a role in the club’s third annual quick change event, he is beyond excited for his next performance; this time in the major theatre production of Macbeth. It is an exciting time and he can’t wait to share this experience with the audience.

Colin Feland they/them (Doctor) is a nonbinary 20 year-old who has worked in some performances in high school, such as Romeo and Juliet and A Christmas Carol as the Priest and Jacob Marley, respectively. Their hobbies include video games, collecting Transformers, writing characters, and recreating characters from video games as articulated action figures from Lego bricks. 

Colin Bowe Kelly Flynn he/him (Porter) is a senior at WSU majoring in English with a minor in Pre-Law. He is a first-time actor with deep love of the arts, and Macbeth is his favorite of Shakespeare’s works for its undeniable marks on and marring of the collective body of English literature. It persuades him and disheartens him towards his ambitions of being an author and playwright in his own right. He is an ex lover of lechery and he stands to…before you as the Porter in this production of Macbeth.

Alexander Leon-Smith he/him (Duncan/Old Seyward) is a sophomore at WSU majoring in Theatre. This is his first show at WSU. He is so excited to perform in the show because there will be no fourth wall, so the audience will get to be included in the show with the actors, making the performances so much more fun and immersive.

Rhiannon Mansur she/her (Rosse) is a senior (English/Art) at Worcester State and is excited for her first Shakespeare performance. Previously, she has played Agnes in She Kills Monsters, Orpheus in Eurydice, and Algernon in The Importance of Being Earnest.

John McAuliffe he/him (Macbeth) is a junior Theatre/Communication major at WSU. John has previously appeared on the Fuller stage as Rocky in The Rocky Horror Show and Kyle in Exit, Pursued By A Bear. He has also recently appeared as Roger in Grease at Theatre at the Mount. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with friends and nerding out in a variety of different ways. He wishes to thank his family and his lovely girlfriend for supporting him in what he does. Enjoy the show, it’s gonna get bloody!

Celina Moore she/her (Weird Sister/Murder/Seyton) is a junior at WSU majoring in Environmental Science and minoring in Theatre. She has previously appeared in the ensemble of The Rocky Horror Show and as Lane in The Importance of Being Earnest. She is also the PR person of Almost Off Book and recently played Kaliope in She Kills Monsters and Hujar in Vampire Lesbians of Sodom for the club. She hopes you enjoy the show, and if you need her, she’ll be on the bench, stage right!

Jaclyn Morrison she/her (Malcolm) is a senior-year English and Theatre student at Worcester State University. This is her fourth mainstage production with the University, having previously portrayed Cecily in The Importance of Being Earnest, Eurydice in Eurydice, and The Narrator in The Rocky Horror Show. In addition, she played Abigail Williams in The Hanover Theatre Repertory’s production of The Crucible and Tilly and Madelaine Astarte, respectively, in Almost Off Book’s productions of She Kills Monsters and Vampire Lesbians of Sodom. She is thrilled to be acting in her first Shakespeare production, which she manifested by cosplaying him for a 4th grade biography project. If her performance as Malcolm moves you to offer her a job that pays buckets of money, she asks that you follow her well-maintained professional Instagram: @jaclyntheactor.

Jeremy Ndungu he/him (Banquo) is in his third year here at Worcester State. He’s majoring in Theatre with a minor in English. His role in this production is Banquo, a role he’s very proud of playing. This will also be his second production here at Worcester State and in his young career. He was previously a phantom in The Rocky Horror Show here at Worcester State.

Cody Robb he/him (Servant/Messenger/Soldier) is a sophomore at Worcester State University majoring in Communication and minoring in Theatre. This is his first VPA production; he has done one other show with Almost Off Book, She Kills Monsters. He is also the Secretary for Almost Off Book.

Catherine Shine she/her (Bloody Sergeant/Lady Macduff/Young Seyward) is a junior here at Worcester State University, double majoring in Theatre and Communication. She is the current Vice President of Almost Off Book and has previously played Lilith in She Kills Monsters and Ali in Vampire Lesbians of Sodom for the club. Catherine is trying very hard to set a record for most deaths in one show!

Roan Testa she/her (Lady Macbeth) is a senior at Worcester State University with a double major in English and Theatre. Her past roles include Columbia in The Rocky Horror Show, Olive Ostrovsky in The 25th Putnam County Spelling Bee, as well as working as a stage manager, backstage crew, and acting with many Worcester State productions both in the VPA department and with the University’s club, Almost Off Book. Playing Lady Macbeth in Macbeth is her capstone project for her Theatre major and she is extremely excited to take on such an admired role!

A Willoughby they/them (Stage Manager) is in their second year at Worcester State and is majoring in Environmental Science and Theatre. Their role in this production is Stage Manager, alongside their Assistant Stage Manager, Ileana. A has previously worked as Deck Chief for The Rocky Horror Show. They hope you enjoy the show the cast and crew dedicated their time to.

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Special Thanks

President Barry Maloney
Dean Russ Pottle
Kim H. Carrell
Jim Warren and the American Globe Center
University Advancement

Connect with VPA!

Instagram: @WSUVPA
Facebook: /VPAatWorcesterState
Web: worcester.edu/vpa

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