Telluride Theatre’s Shakespeare in the Park: “MacBeth,” 7/17 – 7/25!

12 Jul Telluride Theatre’s Shakespeare in the Park: “MacBeth,” 7/17 – 7/25!

Telluride Theatre presents Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” for 2021 Shakespeare in the Park. July 17- 25 at 8pm. (No show Wednesday, July 21). Tickets, $25 (adults); $15 (children); FREE for all San Miguel County teachers and students. Tickets available here. Suitable for ages 13+. RAIN OR SHINE – audience is covered by Town Park stage, regardless, dress warm!

Telluride Theatre’s 31st annual Shakespeare in the Park is a production of “Macbeth.” First performed in 1606, “Macbeth” continues to the one of the most famous plays ever. “The Scottish Play” explores what happens when people seek power for power’s sake.

Tempted by a prophecy by three witches and encouraged/aided by his wife, MacBeth murders his way to the throne. One of Shakespeare’s tragedies, the play is filled with magic and horror, fight scenes and supernatural spells, gorgeous language and some of theatre’s most memorable characters.

Telluride Theatre’s “Macbeth” features music by a hometown hero, Emily Scott Robinson, who has composed five original songs for the show.

“Honestly, I wouldn’t have done this without Emily having signed on,” said Director Colin Sullivan, referring to his co-collaborator and music director for the production:

“Music is real true magic that we can see and hear, just like storytelling. And this play needs magic, and when the witches sing, it should be as beautiful as it is haunting. The original score Emily composed really elevates the whole production.”

Composer Emily Scott Robinson added:

“I have always dreamed of writing original work for the theater, but never has a work called to me until ‘Macbeth.’ The Witches are an incredible archetype to work with– they speak individually, but in rhyme and verse with each other, which was just begging to be arranged into three-part harmony. The singing voice has its own powerful magic– the word ‘incantation’ is rooted in chanting and singing. The songs for ‘Macbeth’ are inspired by the themes of the play– the Shakespeare text is the seed planted; the songs grew into their own lives.”

“MacBeth” stars NYC actor Ian Lassiter as Macbeth and Cat Lee Covert at Lady Macbeth.

Ian has appeared on Broadway in “King Lear” (Cort); “Junk” and “War Horse “(Lincoln Center); “The Cherry Orchard” (Roundabout), as well as having numerous Off-Broadway/regional credits. He is also a member of the devised theatre group, The TEAM.

Ian spoke about what it was like to tackle a role of this size and emotional weight:

“Playing Macbeth is kind of like going on a bear hunt with a fork—you feel totally unprepared, but hope to get a few good stabs in before the bear tears you to pieces. It’s every Shakespearean actors hope and dread to get to play this part, and it is in fact a wonderful challenge. The most important thing to remember when attacking it is something the director and I latched onto: things don’t start to fall apart until they start to fall apart; and the tragedy is that the harder he tries to keep them together as they do, the worse everything gets.”

When asked about his decision to do the play, director Colin Sullivan had this to say:

“I’ve had Macbeth on that short list now for five years running. I now know my hesitation to put it up was because I was afraid of it: afraid of the curse;  scared the play was not what it seemed; afraid I would have to find a way to conjure real magic to make it whole; scared it would demand more from me than anything we had done before. It turns out, I was correct. But I set my intention and I, like Macbeth, or Odysseus, or any wanderer in the dark…was set on a course. This one is going to be special. Everyone in the cast and crew has worked so hard on the production. I’m really proud of them and excited to get this one on the stage.”

Note: Because of some generous donations at our 2021 Gala Telluride Theatre is able to make Macbeth FREE for all San Miguel County teachers and students. To claim your tickets please email sasha@telluridetheatre.org.  Telluride Theatre believes Shakespeare is best learned and experienced LIVE onstage where the Bard meant it to be. This is a great way to learn one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays.

PRODUCTION STAFF

Directed by Colin Sullivan
Technical Direction and Set Design – Dan Gundrum
Costume Design – Melissa Trn
Lighting Design – Tommy Wince
Video Design – nostudios

Featuring – Miles Blue, Julia Caulfield, Suzanne Cheavens, Cat Lee Covert, Anneke Dean, John Gray, Breene Halaby, Maire Higgins, Matt Hoisch, Katie K, Meghan Knowles, Sue Knechtel, Kris Kwasniewski, Ian Lassiter, Peter Lundeen, Aubrey Mable, David Macmillan, Evan Macmillan, Ursula Ostrander, Emily Scott Robinson, James Van Hooser, Gabriel Waldor.

Telluride Theatre, more:

Mission:

Telluride Theatre is committed to advancing the performing arts in our region through innovative productions, education programs and community involvement. Telluride Theatre creates theatre that lives in moments of truthful human connection, promotes joyful celebration and is an open dialogue, accessible to all audiences.

Bios:

COLIN SULLIVAN (Director). He is the Executive Director and an ensemble actor in Telluride Theatre. He holds a B.A. in theatre arts from St. Lawrence University and a Master’s in Teaching from Fordham University.

Colin has trained as a performer at the Actor’s Theatre of Louisville’s professional apprenticeship program; the Michael Chekhov Institute; as well as with Double Edge Theatre and the SITI Company.

In addition to his Executive Director role, Colin is an instructor in the company’s unique ACTions education programs. He has appeared in Telluride Theatre productions since 2008.

IAN LASSITER (Macbeth). BROADWAY: “King Lear” (Cort), “Junk” and “War Horse” (Lincoln Center), “The Cherry Orchard” (Roundabout).

OFF-BROADWAY/REGIONAL: “Fabulation” (Signature),  ‘Pushkin” (Sheen Center), “Ring Twice for Miranda” (NY City Center), “Pericles” and “An Octoroon: (TFANA), “Antony & Cleopatra” (Public Theater, RSC), “Great Comet of 1812 ” (Kazino), “Mission Drift” (Connelly; National Theatre, London), “Kiss” (Yale Rep), “Hamlet” and “Richard II” (Old Globe), “Oliver!” (Arena Stage), “Comedy of Errors” (Shakespeare & Co.), “An Iliad: Guerrillas at Troy” (Continuum Company in Florence, Italy), “Henry V” (Two River Theater).

Ian is a member of the devised theatre group The TEAM (theteamplays.org) and creator of the animated series “Mixed Race Ambiguously Ethnic Haiku Storytime Time!” (@lassiterindustries). ianlassiter.com, @ianlassiternyc

EMILY SCOTT ROBINSON (Composer) is an award-winning singer-songwriter who, when she’s not on tour, loves collaborating with Telluride Theatre.

Emily has written and composed the original music for the Witches in this production of Macbeth. Her new album, “American Siren” (out October 29th on Oh Boy Records) features “Old Gods,” one of the songs you will hear in the show.