Newtown Yardley, PA Announcement
A Gripping Tale of Ambition, Power, and Betrayal: MACBETH @ActorsNET
MORRISVILLE, PA - ActorsNET of Bucks County concludes its 29th Season with the final weekend of William Shakespeare's MACBETH, a bold and timely reimagining of the legendary tragedy that has captivated audiences since opening earlier this month. The production runs through June 28 at ActorsNET's Morrisville theatre before traveling to Doylestown for two special outdoor performances at historic Fonthill Castle on July 10 and 11.
Directed by George Hartpence and Carol Thompson, MACBETH transports Shakespeare's tale of ambition, temptation, murder, and madness to a volatile mid-20th-century militaristic state inspired by periods of political upheaval from the Russian Revolution to the present day.
When the brave Scottish general Macbeth receives a prophecy from three witches foretelling his rise to the throne, ambition and temptation drive him and his cunning wife down a dark and bloody path. As murder gives way to paranoia, tyranny, and madness, Macbeth discovers that the pursuit of power comes at a devastating personal and societal cost.
The production explores themes that remain strikingly relevant today, examining the personal consequences of political instability, the seductive nature of power, and the moral compromises individuals make in pursuit of status and influence. Set against the backdrop of a nation undergoing dramatic regime change, this adaptation reveals how the corruption of a single individual can ripple outward to affect an entire society.
"What begins as an orderly kingdom unravels into chaos when ambition overpowers integrity," says Hartpence. "MACBETH reminds us that the thirst for power can destroy not only the individual but the world around them."
Hartpence further notes that Shakespeare's tragedy continues to resonate because its warnings about unchecked ambition, deception, and moral decay remain as potent today as they were more than four centuries ago.
Audiences have responded enthusiastically to the production's striking visual style, dynamic fight choreography, and powerful performances. "It's everything you'd want MACBETH to be and more - haunting, tragic, disturbing in just the right way," said Nicholas Pecht, an actor and longtime ActorsNET patron.
The cast features Joe Torsella as Macbeth, Cat Milone as Lady Macbeth, Ernie Albanesius as Macduff, Susan Fowler as First Witch, Rachel Howe as Second Witch, Adele Batchelder as Third Witch, Zach Caruso as Banquo, Greyson Trapani as Fleance, Rick Pine as King Duncan/Siward, William Meseah as Malcolm, Solomon Hess as Donalbain/Young Siward/Second Murderer/Second Apparition, Aidan White as Bloody Sergeant/First Murderer/First Apparition/Caithness, T.C. Tropiano as Seyton/Third Murderer/Third Apparition, Jose Padilla as Lennox, Kyle Moore as Ross, Gerry Hehir as Angus, Sarah Jane Zawodniak as Lady Macduff, Sadie Albanesius as Sadie Macduff, Marilyn Licciardello as Gentlewoman, Russ Walsh as Porter, Robert Greene as Doctor, Rich Conte as Servant, Jim Cordingley as Attendant, and Ken Ammerman as Messenger.
Following its final indoor performances, ActorsNET will once again partner with the Mercer Museum & Fonthill Castle for two special outdoor presentations of MACBETH in the spectacular grounds of Fonthill Castle in Doylestown. The performances will take place Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11, at 7:00 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Audiences are invited to experience Shakespeare's witches, warriors, and political intrigue beneath the summer sky in this unique open-air setting.
Tickets for the remaining performances of MACBETH and information about Shakespeare at the Castle are available at www.ActorsNetBucks.org and through the Mercer Museum & Fonthill Castle at www.mercermuseum.org
As Season 29 draws to a close, ActorsNET is already preparing to celebrate a major milestone. The theatre will soon announce its highly anticipated 30th Anniversary Season, featuring beloved audience favorites, classic comedies, mystery, romance, and Shakespeare as the company celebrates three decades of bringing affordable, high-quality live theatre to audiences throughout Bucks County and the surrounding region.
ActorsNET, a nonprofit theater company, has been a proud staple of the Bucks County arts community for over 25 years, bringing top-notch productions to local audiences and providing a creative platform for local artists.
