Epic Theatre Announces MACBETH Talkbacks

Epic Theatre Ensemble announces post performance forums lead by scholars, authors, and thinkers, which will also include members of the cast, immediately following each performance of MACBETH at the 47th Street Theatre (304 W. 47th Street). This series is sponsored by the New York City Council on the Humanities. The production, directed by Ron Russell, begins performances Friday, April 20th and continues through Saturday, May 26th. MACBETH opens, Sunday April 29th at 6pm.

This year’s forums will include, Susan Nakely (St. John’s University professor) on Saturday, April 21st at 2pm, Anne Klaeysen (Leader of Society for Ethical Culture) on Tuesday, April 24th at 8pm, and Barbara Andolsen (Buckman Chair of Applied Christian Ethics, Fordham University) on Wednesday April 25th at 8pm, along with cast members. Additional guest speakers are soon-to-be announced. The discussions will be moderated by executive director Ron Russell, and associate artistic director James Wallert, and are included in the price of a ticket.

A brutal and darkly funny exploration of the banality of evil, Epic Theatre Ensemble’s production of Shakespeare’s classic thriller MACBETH asks the question “How far would you go to get back what you thought fate had promised you?”

The cast of MACBETH includes, OBIE winner Ty Jones, Melissa Friedman, with a special appearance by Tony® Award winner, Richard Easton, one of the foremost interpreters of Shakespeare today. Also featured are E. Haqq, Rhett Henckel, Aimé Donna Kelly, Scott Kerns, Lori E. Parquet, Julian Rozzell, Jr., Godfrey L. Simmons, Jr., and James Wallert.

Founded in 2001, Epic Theatre Ensemble is a company of artists and activists dedicated to creating socially minded Off-Broadway productions, and to connecting these theatrical events to NYC Public Schools through rigorous in school and after-school residencies. Epic aims to inspire vital dialogue about social, ethical, and political issues and to build thoughtful citizenship in local communities. Epic’s past productions include: the critically acclaimed New York premiere of Sarah Ruhl’s Passion Play; Nilaja Sun’s No Child… (commissioned, developed and premiered by Epic prior to its commercial transfer and national tour); the premieres of Beauty on the Vine by Zak Berkman (featuring Epic associates David Strathairn and Olivia Wilde), Hannah and Martin by Kate Fodor (featuring David Strathairn), Einstein’s Gift by Vern Thiessen (featuring Aasif Mandvi and Shawn Elliott), Habitat by Judith Thompson; and the revivals of George Bernard Shaw’s Widowers’ Houses (with Peter Jay Fernandez), Henrik Ibsen’s Little Eyolf, and J.B. Priestley’s Time and the Conways. Epic Theatre Ensemble was founded by Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Teri Lamm, Ron Russell and James Wallert, and the founding team has since been joined by additional Producing Artists Godfrey L. Simmons Jr. and Sarah Winkler. Epic is the proud recipient of OBIE, Lucille Lortel, Outer Critics and OTTO Awards, the 2009 “Coming Up Taller” Award from the President’s Council for the Arts and Humanities for their flagship educational program, Shakespeare Remix, as well as citations from Mayors Giuliani and Bloomberg.

The performance schedule for MACBETH is Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., with matinees on Saturdays at 2:00. There are additional performances on Tuesday, April 24 at 8:00 p.m., Thursday, April 26 at 8:00 p.m., a matinee on Friday, April 27th at 2pm, Sunday, April 29th at 2PM and Thursday, May 24 at 8:00 p.m. The production runs through Saturday, May 26th at 2pm.

Tickets are $35 and are available through Ticket Central by calling (212) 279-4200 or visiting www.ticketcentral.com.