Northern Stage to Present a Daring Production of MACBETH at Barrette Center for the Arts

William Shakespeare's Macbeth runs live on stage at the Barrette Center for the Arts in White River Junction, VT, September 28 through October 23. For tickets and information, call 802-296-7000 or visit www.northernstage.org. Tickets start at $15 for students and $30 for adults.

Northern Stage opens the 20th Anniversary season with a two-hour, bold production of Shakespeare's iconic tragedy. Full of sound and fury, the modern, fast-paced staging reflects our troubled times as it follows Lord and Lady Macbeth on their bloody path to the throne. Shakespeare's shortest tragedy probes the deepest realms of human nature, finding dark truths that still resonate with our world. Directed by noted Shakespearean director Stephen Brown-Fried and featuring a multi-cultural cast of nationally renowned actors, this production joins the countless world productions set to acknowledge the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death. This play marks Brown-Fried's debut with Northern Stage, and he brings a wealth of directing experience to the project. His work has been seen at The Public Theater, National Asian American Theatre Company, Ensemble Studio Theatre, New York Theatre Workshop's 4th Street Theater, Sundance Theatre Lab, Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Trinity Shakespeare, Milwaukee Shakespeare, Illinois Shakespeare and The Shakespeare Theatre Company. When asked why she chose to open the anniversary season with this show, Producing Artistic Director Carol Dunne commented, "As the only fully professional regional theater in Vermont and New Hampshire, we recognize our obligation to provide a season that is both distinctive and diverse in its programming. We produce bold re-imaginings of classic plays as well as new popular hits, and we focus our attention on work that resonates with our community. This Macbeth reflects our world, steeped in political anxiety, war and terror; our audiences will be taken on a powerful journey of tragic ambition against the backdrop of modern warfare. Stephen Brown-Fried's production dares us to recognize ourselves in Shakespeare's masterpiece."

New York actor Robert David Grant returns to his native Upper Valley, playing the title role. Grant's credits include work at Yale Repertory Theater, Westside Theatre, The Pearl Theater, The Flea Theater, and Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. Tricia Miller plays Lady Macbeth, and brings past experience at Trinity Shakespeare Festival, Artists Repertory Theatre, Las Vegas Shakespeare Company, and Southwest Shakespeare Company. They are both making their Northern Stage debut with these roles. Other actors include Bradley Anderson, Stephen Lee Anderson (whose Broadway credits include Steve Martin's Bright Star, Spiderman, Wicked, Julius Caesar, The Crucible, and Footloose) George Colligan (another returning Upper Valley native), Kim Fischer, Avery Glymph, Rigel Harris (a graduate of Northern Stage's education programs returning for her professional debut), Hollis McCarthy, Dartmouth College recent graduate Carene Mekertichyan, Phumi Sitole, and Damian Thompson. Dartmouth student Virginia Ogden joins the cast through Northern Stage's new Experiential Learning Term program, made possible by the company's recent accreditation of Academic Theatre Status by Actor's Equity Association. Local young performers Robert Silva and Tessa Cullen complete the Acting Company.

Five designers will create the look and feel of the play: Bill Clarke (Scenic Design), Dan Kotlowitz (Lighting & Projections), Alek Deva (Video), Moria Clinton (Costumes) and Toby Algya (Sound).

Performances are Tuesdays through Sundays; sponsored by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Casella Resource Solutions, and Norwich Inn. A companion event Spot On Series Conversation, "Shakespeare in the Making," will be held in the Byrne Theater at the Barrette Center for the Arts on Sunday, October 2 from 3:30 - 4:30 PM, led by the Macbeth creative team. This conversation is free and open to the public. An optional 20-minute post-show conversation with the company follows Macbeth performances Oct. 4 - 22. $15 Anytime Student tickets are available for any performance, and Northern Stage is launching a new Access for All $5 ticket program for qualifying patrons with this production. More information can be found on the Northern Stage website. Regular adult ticket prices range from $30-$55. A complimentary post-show reception with the cast follows the opening night performance onSaturday, October 1.

Northern Stage is a regional non-profit LORT-D professional theater company with a mission to change lives, one story at a time. Based at the crossroads of New England -- the Upper Valley of the Connecticut River -- Northern Stage's intimate space sets the stage for actively involving its audiences with ambitious productions and expansive educational programs. Founded in 1997, Northern Stage has offered more than 115 high-quality, professional productions of new works, classics, and musicals. Annual attendance is now over 30,000.

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