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Directed by Joseph Discher
Sound by Will Padilla
Production Manager - Denise Cardarelli*
Assistant to the Director - Lizzie Engelberth
Produced by Sean Hudock
THE CAST (in order of speaking)
Laila Robins* | The Weird Sisters
Geoffrey Owens* | Duncan, Murderer, Doctor
Patrick Toon* | Sergeant, Porter, Murderer, Seyton
Sean Hudock* | Malcolm
Shane Taylor* | The Thane of Ross
Derek Wilson* | Macbeth
Joel de la Fuente* | Banquo
Tamara Tunie* | Lady Macbeth
Tim Nicolai* | Fleance, Donalbain, Murderer, Lord, Apparition
Robert Cuccioli* | Macduff
Jeorge Bennett Watson* | Lennox
Jacob Cogman | Apparition, Boy Macduff
Anneke Discher | Apparition
Mandy Olsen* | Lady MacduffI
Rocio Mendez* | Gentlewoman
Steve Zumfeld* | Siward
*member Actor's Equity
Hello, and welcome to Macbeth: A Surround Sound Experiment! Why is it called an experiment? Well, we had no idea what would happen or how it would turn out when we gathered 16 actors via Zoom (two of them kids), rehearsed a Shakespeare tragedy in 24 hours over 13 days, recorded individually on actors’ computers in different acoustic spaces with varying equipment and geographical locations from New York to Los Angeles to New Zealand, added a soundscape, and edited it into what is now our production of Macbeth. But we had to try. We have a passion for telling stories, for Shakespeare, and for being of use.
The idea for this project began over a bonfire (fitting for Macbeth and witches) in a socially-distant conversation about what Shakespeare play would be best to present. it turns out the producer and I had independently thought of the same play. We then decided that rather than perform a play via Zoom, we would fully embrace this time of isolation, and offer an isolated, more personal experience. Macbeth is essentially a psychological thriller, which seemed a great choice to quite literally put in people’s heads with earphones. It does not rely upon the use of stage blood, but upon the hauntingly descriptive language. Macbeth is about one couple’s descent into guilt, paranoia, and madness. At its core, it is about what happens when a person gives ear to their darker thoughts and ambition overtakes morality, which also makes Macbeth feel incredibly relevant.
“But cruel are the times when we are traitors
And do not know ourselves; when we hold rumor
From what we fear, but know not what we fear
But float upon a wild and violent sea…”
What started as a labor of love turned into an epic endeavor; but it was also full of purpose, joy, connection, and camaraderie. I was extremely fortunate to work with one of my oldest and dearest friends, our sound designer, Will Padilla, whose work will put you in the middle of Macbeth and allow you to experience it as you never have before. I am also grateful to our intrepid producer, Sean Hudock, for his tireless work to make this happen. My deepest thanks to this incredible group of actors who gave of their time and tremendous talent. And I thank you for joining us, and for helping raise funds for, and awareness of, The Actors Fund.
I think the experiment worked. I hope you will enjoy it under “the blanket of the dark.”