Lion Players of Penn State Fayette to bring ‘Macbeth’ to stage
The Lion Players of Penn State Fayette Campus will celebrate its sixth season with performances of William Shakespeare’s tragedy, “Macbeth.” Performances are Thursday, April 10, at 12:15 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, April 11-12, at 7 p.m. in Swimmer Hall located in the lower level of the campus’ Williams Building.
The Lion Players is a student-operated theatrical company at Penn State Fayette. It was founded in 1998 with the overriding mission to broaden the cultural horizons of the campus and community. It is dedicated to full-length productions of Shakespeare.
The unique characteristic of this acting company is that its plays are student directed and student produced. An additional challenge is that the students involved are not theatre or English majors and have had no college acting courses. There is no theater department on campus to support and oversee this activity.
Previous productions of the Lion Players have been “Romeo and Juliet” 1998; “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” 1999; “Twelfth Night” 2000; “Much Ado About Nothing” 2001; and “As You Like It” 2002.
After four consecutive romantic comedies, Dr. Dennis Brestensky, founder and faculty adviser of the Lion Players says, “It was time for us to return to doing a Shakespeare tragedy, so we decided on ‘Macbeth’ for this year’s production.
“Tragedy is more difficult for us to do than comedy, and this play has the additional challenge of special effects,” he added.
“Macbeth” ranks among Shakespeare’s top four tragedies. It is a play of confusion, madness, ambition, fate, blood, assassinations, witches, ghosts, powerful poetry and soliloquies. It is a very intense tragedy of murder and revenge, probing the nature and effects of evil that resides in human nature.
Cast members for the play are Matt Kocerka, Macbeth; Amy Stowinsky, Lady Macbeth; Stan Bartlett, Macduff; Raven Murray, Banquo and Ghost; Joe Kozel, Malcolm; Sam Petko, Donalbain and Soldier; Milt Shaulis, Duncan and Hecate; Dana Shaner, Lady MacDuff, Fleance, Seyton, Servant, and Messenger; Barbara Hanabeck, Macduff’s daughter; Amy Martin, First With and Gentlewoman; Lyn Petko, Second Witch, and Porter; Miranda Fullem, Third Witch; Fred Adams, Doctor; Jeanie Christopher, Ross; Stacie Evans, Lennox; Kathleen Davidson, Angus, Second Murderer and Young Siward; Christine Matsko, Menteith/Caithness, Third Murder, Old Man, and Lord; Jen Duenas, First Murderer; Jonas Dusenbrry, Captain, Sward, Lord, Servant, and Messenger; Mildred Wilburn, Servant and Lord.
Rene Forbes, after her acting debut last year, returns as student director of this year’s production. Joining her are students, Matt Kocerka, assistant director; Jeanie Christopher, stage manager, Amy Stowinsky, assistant stage manager, Elizabeth Davidson, Jamie Spellman and Kathleen Davidson, fight choreographers; Orlando Lambert, program; David Wingard and Rian Caldwell, special props; Kara Gallagher, Lady Macbeth costume; and Chris Miller, poster design. Other support personnel are Dr. Fred Adams, music and sound effects; Bill Hager, lighting; Mary Garrity, seamstress, costumes and reservations; Cheryl Duncan, tickets; Joy Fike, special arrangements; Milt Shaulis, stage set; and Rose Mary O’Brien, special projects. Admission is free, but reservations and tickets are required. Call Penn State Fayette’s Information desk at 724-430-4121. Donations to The Lion Players may be made at the door.