Having taught Shakespeare's Macbeth more times than I can count over a 34-year teaching career, I am always "up" for a new interpretation. This gothic rendition sounds like something I'd like to see. Perhaps you would too. And the WAC theater is a beautiful former church with great acoustics.
Bloomfield College's Westminster Arts Center (BCWAC) opens its 2010–2011 season with the Rogues Company's gothic re-telling of Shakespeare's classic play. Vampyre Macbeth not only adds aspects of the legend of the vampire, but is also one of the few productions to "showcase" the witches' role in Macbeth's destiny and to include Hecate, the Queen of the Witches. It's the story of what happens when fate and free will are locked in a “battle” over the destiny of one man. It may be written in stone, but there’s a right and wrong way to attain it.
WHEN: Thursday, September 9, at 7:30 PM (to accommodate a "talk-back" with the cast), Friday and Saturday, September 10 and 11, at 8 PM and Sunday, September 12, at 2 PM
WHERE: Westminster Art Center (on the campus of Bloomfield College), 449 Franklin Street, at the corner of Franklin and Fremont Streets, in Bloomfield, just a short distance from the Garden State Parkway.
TICKETS: $20, Seniors & Children $15. Tickets can be purchased at www.bccommunity.org/Westminster, or by calling the box office at 973.748.9008, ext. 279.
The closing performance coincides with the "kick-off" of Arts in Education Week, the first Congressional expression of support celebrating all the arts education disciplines. "I'm thrilled to see that the U.S. House of Representativess acknowledges the importance of the arts in this country," said Gregory Allen, Westminster's managing director. "Starting our season with Shakespeare falls directly in line with this thought, as our humanities department is excited about Rogues' new take on a classic."
The cast for Vampyre Macbeth includes Nino Spallacci as Ross/Lennox/Second Murderer, Francesco Nuzzi as MacDuff/ First Murderer, Julie Jin as Lady MacDuff/First Witch, Jin's son Ethan as Young MacDuff, Arthur Hunking as Fleance, Bill Karcher as Siward, Jason Rader as Donalbain/Third Murderer, Greg Jolley as Banquo/Bloody Sargeant, Leonidas Giannopoulos as Malcolm, Emelie Jeffrie as Second Witch, Sam Xavier as Third Witch, Traci Ford as Hecate/Porter, Max McGuire as Duncan, Carol Crittenden as Lady Macbeth and James Karcher (who is also directing) as the Vampyre Macbeth.
Founded by Karcher, who also serves as the company's artistic director, Rogues has performed throughout the tri-state area at many venues. A working actor, director and writer for over 25 years, Karcher, a former Montclair native, has long performed Shakespeare in New York, on national tours and throughout Europe. Karcher founded Rogues Company to celebrate and preserve classic theater, be it European or American.
For more information about Rogues Company, visit http://www.roguescompany.com/.
