Berkeley Rep's Starry MACBETH Begins Performances in February

Berkeley Rep presents Shakespeare's dark and violent tragedy on the Roda Stage. This classic exploration of the ominous side of ambition tells the story of a couple bound together in their thirst for the Scottish throne. Driven by an evil prophesy and his scheming wife, Macbeth kills the king and claims his crown, thus beginning a moral descent into a reign of terror. Macbeth starts previews Friday, February 19, 2016 and runs through Sunday, April 10. Press night for Macbeth will be held on Friday, February 26, 2016. Individual tickets for Macbeth will go on sale at noon Wednesday, December 2. Individual tickets start at $35 and can be purchased by phone at 510 647-2949 or online at berkeleyrep.org.

Directed by Daniel Sullivan and starring Conleth Hill (Macbeth) and Frances McDormand (Lady Macbeth), this production boasts a trifecta of talent. The three seasoned artists have undertaken Shakespeare previously, but this will be the first time each has been involved in a Macbeth production. "This is absolutely thrilling," says Tony Taccone, Berkeley Rep's Michael Leibert Artistic Director. "To have people of this caliber and talent and desire and ambition, it just doesn't get any better than this."

For his critically lauded and numerous Shakespeare in the Park productions, the New York Times has called director Daniel Sullivan's work "absolutely splendid" and rendered with "passion, expertise and uncommon intelligence." Says Sullivan, "Macbeth with its hugely theatrical supernatural effects (witches, hallucinations and ghosts at the dinner table) is a daunting directorial challenge. To have these amazing actors by my side, I know we will create something incredible for Berkeley Rep's audience."

Joining Hill and McDormand in Macbeth will be nine Bay Area actors, and others from around the country, including:

K. Scott Coopwood (Lennox),Derek Fischer (ensemble),Gene Gillette (Bleeding Captain), Korey Jackson (Macduff), Paul Jennings (ensemble), Billy Eugene Jones (Ross), Leon Jones (Macduff's son), Adam Magill (Malcolm), Rami Margron (Witch), Nicholas Pelczar (ensemble), Tyler Pierce (Fleance), and Mia Tagano (Lady Macduff, Witch). And returning to the Berkeley Rep stage in the roles of Duncan and Porter will be longtime Bay Area favorite, James Carpenter. Carpenter has appeared in numerous Berkeley Rep productions since 1984, including most recently Head of Passes; Pericles, Prince of Tyre; Three Sisters; and The Lieutenant of Inishmore.

More information can be found in the Berkeley Rep Press Room.

The creative team includes Douglas Schmidt (scenic design), Meg Neville (costume design), Pat Collins (lighting design), Dan Moses Schreier (sound design), Alexander V. Nichols (projection design), Michael Suenkel (stage manager) and Barry Kraft (dramaturg).

For the 2015-16 season, Berkeley Rep recognizes the generosity of returning season sponsors BART, Wells Fargo, and KPIX-TV (Channel 5), and welcomes Peet's Coffee as its fourth official season sponsor. Macbeth is made possible thanks to the generous support of season sponsors Jack and Betty Schafer; Michael and Sue Steinberg; and the Strauch Kulhanjian Family, and lead sponsors Bruce Golden and Michelle Mercer; Helen and John Meyer/Meyer Sound; Stewart and Rachelle Owen; and The Bernard Osher Foundation.

ABOUT BERKELEY REP

Berkeley Repertory Theatre has grown from a storefront stage to an international leader in innovative theatre. Known for its core values of imagination and excellence, as well as its educated and adventurous audience, the nonprofit has provided a welcoming home for emerging and established artists since 1968. In four decades, four million people have enjoyed nearly 400 shows at Berkeley Rep. These shows have gone on to win five Tony Awards, seven Obie Awards, nine Drama Desk Awards, one Grammy Award, and many other honors. In recognition of its place on the national stage, Berkeley Rep received the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre in 1997. Its bustling facilities - which include the 400-seat Thrust Stage, the 600-seat Roda Theatre, the Berkeley Rep School of Theatre, the Osher Studio, and a spacious new campus in West Berkeley - are helping revitalize a renowned city. Learn more at berkeleyrep.org

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FACT SHEET

BERKELEY REP PRESENTS MACBETH

WHO: Written by William Shakespeare

Directed by Daniel Sullivan

Featuring: Conleth Hill (Macbeth) and Frances McDormand (Lady Macbeth)

James Carpenter (Duncan, Porter), K. Scott Coopwood (Lennox), Derek Fischer (ensemble), Gene Gillette (Bleeding Captain), Korey Jackson (Macduff), Paul Jennings (ensemble), Billy Eugene Jones (Ross), Leon Jones (Macduff's son), Adam Magill (Malcolm), Rami Margron (Witch), Nicholas Pelczar (ensemble),Tyler Pierce (Fleance), and Mia Tagano (Lady Macduff, Witch).

Creative team: Douglas Schmidt (scenic design), Meg Neville (costume design), Pat Collins (lighting design), Dan Moses Schreier (sound design), and Alexander V. Nichols (projection design).Michael Suenkel (stage manager) Barry Kraft (dramaturg).

WHAT: Olivier Award winner and Tony Award nominee Conleth Hill (Lord Varys in Game of Thrones) and Tony, Academy, and Emmy Award winner Frances McDormand (Olive Kitteridge) star as the notorious couple in Shakespeare's murderous play about the lust for power and the fickleness of fate. Joining these two powerhouses of the stage and screen is an exceptional ensemble of veteran actors from the Bay Area and beyond. Tony- and Obie Award-winning director Daniel Sullivan - dubbed the "go-to guy for Shakespeare" by the New York Times - helms this thrilling new production especially for Berkeley Rep's audiences.

WHERE: Berkeley Repertory Theatre

Roda Theatre, 2025 Addison Street @ Shattuck, Berkeley, CA 94704

WHEN: 60 PERFORMANCES: Friday, February 19 - Sunday, April 10, 2016

· Tuesdays and Fridays @ 8:00 PM

· Wednesdays @ 7:00 PM

· Thursdays @ 8:00 PM; 2:00 & 8:00 PM on 3/3 and 3/31

· Saturdays @ 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM; 8:00 PM only on 2/20 and 3/5

· Sundays @ 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM; 7:00 PM only on 2/21

· No performance on Tuesday 3/29

Special Events:

Low-cost previews: Friday 2/19, Saturday 2/20, Tuesday 2/23, and Thursday 2/25 @ 8:00 PM; Sunday 2/21 & Wednesday 2/24 @ 7:00 PM

Opening night: Friday 2/26 @ 8:00 PM; includes a pre-show dinner for donors sponsored by Autumn Press and C.G. di Arie Vineyard & Winery and Hotel Shattuck Plaza

Teen Night: Friday 2/19 @ 6:15 PM

FREE docent events: Docent talks before Tuesday and Thursday evening performances and discussions after all matinees

Post-play discussions: Thursday 3/10, Tuesday 3/15, and Friday 3/25 following the performance

Open captioning: Sunday 4/3 @ 2:00pm

HOW MUCH: Premium: Premium: $85-125 · Section A: $65-95 · Section B: $35-65 (subject to change) TIX & INFO: 510 647-2949 - berkeleyrep.org Discounts: Half-price tickets available for anyone

under 30 years of age; $10 discount for students and seniors one hour before curtain; Groups of 10 or more, email groups@berkeleyrep.org

Tim Etheridge

Public Relations Director

Berkeley Repertory Theatre

tetheridge@berkeleyrep.org

510.647.2917 (direct )

415.786.1377 (cell)

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