Penn State to stage ‘MacBeth’
Matt Kocerka majors in English at Penn State, Fayette Campus and plans to go to law school after he finishes his studies at University Park. But with no formal training and only a small role as a villain last year in “As You Like It,’ Kocerka finds himself playing the title character today in The Lion Players’ Production of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.’
“I had such a great time last year,’ said Kocerka, who is also assistant director. “I wanted to do more and now I’m doing more.’
Far from unusual, Kocerka, 19, of Greensboro is the norm for membership in The Lion Players, a theatrical company that was founded six years ago at Fayette Campus.
Specializing in Shakespeare, the company includes mostly students as well as some faculty and staff. Some members have had parts in high school plays, but most have no previous acting experience and none are theater majors.
“I never acted before and I absolutely love it,’ said Lynn Petko, a professor of English and coordinator of the Academic and Community Engagement Center, who joined The Lion Players five years ago.
Most company members plan to go on to careers that don’t include theater.
Besides law, students say they are looking for careers in justice, business, art and engineering.
There’s always an exception. Dr. Dennis Brestensky, who has taught Shakespeare at the campus for 37 years and is advisor to the company, reported that two members this semester have been accepted into theater programs. They are Joe Kozel, who will study at University Park, and Stan Bartlett, who will transfer to Point Park College in Pittsburgh.
But for most of the company, theater is a new experience.
“I really enjoy it,’ said Amy Martin, 26, of Pittsburgh, who is majoring in letters, arts and sciences, and will play the first witch as well as a gentlewoman. She’s also a set designer.
“I’m a bit of a perfectionist and not a good actor, but I want to be, so I try hard to do it well.’
Brestensky is proud of them all: “It takes courage to get up in front of people and to get up and do Shakespeare – think about it.’
He continued, “I’m just overwhelmed that they’ve committed so much effort to Shakespeare and they do it with so much enthusiasm.’
And without a theater department, Brestensky pointed out. Company members are responsible for making the sets, finding and making costumes and any special effects. For example, Macbeth uses witches, ghosts and apparitions.
The student members of production staff include Rene Forbes, director; Matt Kocerka, who is assistant director in addition to playing Macbeth; Jeanie Christopher, stage manager; Amy Stowinsky, who is assistant stage manager besides playing Lady Macbeth; 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.
The faculty include 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.
“Macbeth’ is using a cast of 20; 17 are students and three are faculty.
They include Matt Kocerka, Macbeth; Amy Stowinsky, Lady Macbeth; Stan Bartlett, Macduff; Raven Murray, Banquo and Ghost; Joe Kozel, Malcolm; Sam Petko, Donaldbain and Soldier; Milt Shaulis, who is a member of the faculty, Duncan and Hecate; Dana Shaner, Lady Macduff, Fleance, Seyton, Servant and Messenger; Barbara Hanabeck, Macduff’s daughter; Amy Martin, First Witch and Gentlewoman; Lynn Petko, also a member of the faculty, Second Witch and Porter; Miranda Fullem, Third Witch; Fred Adams, another member of the faculty, Doctor; Jeanie Christopher, Ross; Staycie Evans, Lennox; Kathleen Davidson, Angus, Second Murderer and Young Siward; Christine Matsko, Menteith/Caithness, Third Murderer, Old Man and Lord; Jen Duenas, First Murderer; Jonas Dusenberry, Captain, Siward, Lord, Servant and Messenger; Mildred Wilburn Servant and Lord.
The cast includes a mother and son: Lynn and Sam Petko. Sam, 19, of Brownsville is an administration of justice major who would eventually like to have a job with the FBI. After transferring to Penn State this semester from Duquesne, Sam joined the company at his mother’s suggestion and was planning just to work on sets until Brestensky asked him to take a part.
“I thought it was going to be a challenge. Now it’s just fun,’ said Sam Petko. “I’ve liked Shakespeare since the 10th grade. My English teacher started getting me into it.’
Lynn Petko said of the experience of working with her son: “We get to interact more. He gets to see mom in a different light.’
Theater is a new experience for most of the people in the company. And they’ve tackled a difficult subject with good results.
The company presented “Romeo and Juliet’ in its first year, 1998. Since then, it’s handled comedies: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ in 1999, “Twelfth Night’ in 2000, “Much Ado About Nothing’ in 2001, and “As You Like It’ in 2002.
This year, they took a turn with “Macbeth,’ which Brestensky said is one of Shakespeare’s top four tragedies.
“This play is 90 percent poetry and 10 percent prose,’ said Brestensky. “I’m proud because this play is a bigger challenge. There are so many speeches. Even minor characters have speeches.’
Work began last fall with the casting of parts.
Rene Forbes, 43, of Uniontown, who was voted director by the company, said she and Brestensky selected the actors for the principal roles of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Macduff and Lady Macduff but that the other actors selected their own parts.
Forbes, who previously played three parts in “As You Like It,’ said of directing, “It’s tough. It’s a big challenge.’
A single mother who previously stayed at home before returning to school as an administration of justice major, Forbes said her duties for the show included finding costumes or having them made, delegating work to create the set and then joining the crew to paint it over spring break.
Special effects had to be handled. Forbes herself made objects out of sculpting clay for the witches to throw into the caldron. She had to handle the cast party and make sure everyone is on time and ready for their roles.
What about understudies?
“We don’t have understudies,’ said Forbes. “When the show goes on, Macduff better be here. We don’t have anybody else for the part. Usually it works out well.’
While Forbes and Brestensky have the final say, the company works more like a democracy with everyone giving input.
“The witches pretty much have done their own scenes the way they wanted and it has worked very well,’ said Forbes. “We added a little input. They blocked each other.’
As another example, Martin suggested the colorful painting she created for the middle of the set.
“We were discussing the set and I felt it was kind of dark. For Macbeth, you want it to be dark. But I wanted a metaphorical image on the set. It’s there to represent chaos and impulse.’
“Everyone has a say. It’s very democratic and I like that,’ said Kocerka.
“It’s like a group of friends getting together and doing something they enjoy,’ said Stowinsky, 20, of Scenery Hill, who is majoring in business administration. “It’s more student run. It’s not just a director telling you what to do. Most everybody in it enjoys that factor.’
“Everybody helps each other,’ said Jen Duenas, 19, of San Diego, who is a civil engineer major. “It’s not let’s talk to this person because he knows more. Everybody throws out ideas and we’re all friends. It’s like family here.’
Family is a word you hear repeated often when you talk to company members.
“It’s wonderful to see how many people are not trained but are here because they want to do it. We all grow at the same pace. It’s like a family, not like a club or group. We understand each other’s quirks,’ said Kocerka.
“We’ve become like a little family,’ said Jeanie Christopher, 42, of Keisterville, an administration of justice major, who formerly worked 16 years as a nursing assistant.
“We help each other, encourage each other. We put a lot of hard work into this. We put in more than 100 percent. I enjoy these plays, these people. I love Dr. B. He’s really great. These people are really great people.’
Dana Shaner, 20, of Connellsville, who majors in letters, arts and science and wants to earn a doctorate in marine biology, said, “We’re all really close and I’d do anything for all of them.’
As the performance dates grew closer, rehearsals were increased with the company getting together every day this week. The work is challenging but fulfillment levels are high.
“I get a lot of satisfaction in working with other people to create something,’ said Martin. “It’s satisfying to me to be a part of them and watch it all come together.’
Forbes commented, “It’s stressful but I’m having a great time. It’s wonderful to watch everyone put their heart into everything they do. I have seen them transform into their characters. It’s great. I love it.’
Company members also see the theater experience helping them in all parts of their lives and affecting their future careers.
Kocerka sees it helping him in public speaking as well as courtroom law: “If I can conduct myself well on stage, I can do well in a courtroom. Hopefully, I’ll do well in both.’
On a trip to London over spring break this year, Lynn Petko found herself pulled onstage during a visit to the Reduced Shakespeare Company.
Rather than just be a sounding board for jokes, she discovered herself throwing improvised lines to the actors. She’s now considering community theater.
“Working in groups, you find that someone doesn’t always feel the way you do,’ said Stowinsky. “I feel more confident, which I think in the business world will help me to work with anybody.’
“I think it gives you the confidence to face people,’ said Christopher. “Last fall, I did a stand up comedy routine in the talent show. I would never have done that without this. It gives you the courage to try other things.’
Shaner said, “It shows me if I put my mind to something I can do just about anything.’
Most of those who will be at Fayette Campus next year say they plan to return. And then there are those who plan never to leave.
Christopher said, “Even after I’m working, I’m coming back for another degree to do the play. It’s an experience I don’t want to give up.’
The Lion Players will perform “Macbeth’ today at 12:15 p.m. and Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. in Swimmer Hall, located in the lower level of the campus’ Williams Building. Penn State is located along Route 119 north of Uniontown. Admission is free but reservations and tickets are required. Call Penn State’s Information Desk at 724-430-4121.