For Immediate Release: March 22, 2006
Media Contact: Bryan S. Clark, The Academy Theatre, 609.291.9000

For the second show of The Academy Theatre’s 4th season and for the first time ever, director Christopher L. Butterfield has chosen a classic drama. His choice: Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s most elaborate dramas, capitalizing on some of the great elements that the Bard loves to include in his great works: internal conflict and the struggle with madness, the use of actual history as a vehicle for great dramatic action, and a hint of mysticism and mythology to fuel the evil of this dark idea. The premise is easy to follow as well: A man, who already wields great power and responsibility is given a vision of even greater power by mystic beings, the only catch being that his lineage will never hold the power he retains. Through the use of incredible text and imagery, the plot to dethrone kings begins.

Director Christopher L. Butterfield has chosen to stage a reduction that he developed. The reduced version of Macbeth will run approximately 90 minutes with no intermission. This reduced version makes the piece more appetizing for modern audiences by hastening the action of the story and minimizing the repetition in the original text, while not removing any of the necessary elements that make the play a classic. This is not the first time that Christopher has attempted this. In 2003, his version of Othello was produced in Guatemala City and received wide acclaim. The piece, originally produced by BCKSEET Productions, was then commissioned by the Guatemalan American Institute (el Instituto Guatemalteco Americano), a bicultural organization that focuses on the abridgement of Guatemalan and American cultures through the instruction of language and the display of artistic work, for a second run. In addition to directing Shakespeare, Christopher has kept himself busy recently directing and conceiving a new piece, Hung on a Blonde Ponytail: An Act of Rock. This May he will stage Manuel Puig’s Kiss of the Spider Woman for BCKSEET Productions in Philadelphia, and The Who’s Tommy for The Academy Theatre this August.

The cast of Macbeth has been hand picked from all over the region and includes some of the area’s great Shakespearean performers.

Mark Cairns (Macbeth) - Glenholden, PA. Mark just finished understudying the part of Oberon in the Wilma Theatre’s holiday hit, Shakespeare in Hollywood. Previously Mark has been seen at the Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival and the Delaware Shakespeare Festival and played a variety of Shakespearean roles including Petruchio, Benedick, Corin, and a multitude of other classic roles. To enhance his role as the general turned king, Mark has served over 10 years in active duty and reserves in the18th Airborne Corps and is a combat veteran of Operation Desert Storm.

Annina Jordan (Lady Macbeth) - Blue Bell, PA. Annina has trained at the Wilma Theatre Studio, People’s Light & Theatre Company, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, and holds a Bachelor’s in Theatre from Temple University. Annina has had numerous leading roles in both the theatre and in television and film. She has performed in 7 different Shakespearean roles and been apart of the Classic Shakespeare Company and the Arden Shakespeare Gild. Some of her other outstanding credits include Bianca in Desdemona, Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible, Micah in the film The Awakening, and Kate in the film The Unusual.

Eileen Cooney (Banquo) - New York, NY. Recently back in the United States, Eileen has taken back residence in New York after leaving her native Dublin, Ireland. Although originally born and schooled in Dublin, Eileen has trained and lived in Paris and Belfast as well. The majority of her work has been in these three cities although she is beginning to build a repertoire here in the U.S. Previous performances include Laura in The Glass Menagerie in Paris, Sister in Outsider in Belfast, and three-time Best Actress Award winner in the Cabinteely Drama Festival for her performances as Sandra in Costa Del Packet, Rita in I Do Not Like the Doctor Fell and even as Lady Macbeth herself.

Adrain Washington (Macduff) - New York, NY. After being homeless for close to 2 years so that he could go to college, Adrarin realized he wanted to share his experience with others by going into acting. Having trained in a variety of schools including Glenn Close’s Shakespearean Technique and Phillip Michael Thomas’ Actor’s Workshop Adrain has since been a steady force in the industry with roles in both stage and screen. Some previous stage appearances include The Price of Color, The Angel Project, and Siroe at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. In film, Adrain has been seen in On the Edge, HBO’s Everyday People and with Wesley Snipes and Mario Van Peebles in Hard Luck.

Macbeth’s opening night (April 6) will offer an opportunity to meet and speak with all the performers and the producers of the show. This event will also include special offers on this season, invitations for local media groups and organizations, and free wine and hors d’oeuvres.

Macbeth has, at this time, a limited run of only six performances. The show runs from April 6 to April 15, 2006. Performances take place every Thursday through Saturdays at 8 p.m. Tickets may be reserved by calling the box office at 609-291-9000. Ticket cost is $20 in advance sales and $25 at the door. To see a seating chart or for more information on The Academy Theatre, check our website at www.theacademytheatre.com.

For more information regarding The Academy Theatre, this press release, or to arrange for interviews call Bryan S. Clark at 609-291-9000 or by emailing bryan.s.clark@theacademytheatre.com.

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