“We’re celebrating the 26th year of the Monroe County Civic Theater in Bloomington,” said Sheila Butler, director of the play. “And Shakespeare in the Park has been a part of it for close to 20 years.”

– from the Indiana Daily Student News

Local theatre prepares for Shakespeare outing

MCCT proudly presents Macbeth by William Shakespeare June 7, 8 and 9 at 7 p.m. and June 10 at 3 p.m.

Bring a picnic, lawnchairs, blankets, sunscreen and bug spray and enjoy Shakespeare in the Park.

This year’s production of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, directed by Sheila Butler, promises to be one of MCCT’s best shows to date. The show combines a talented cast with Sound/Music Design by Cairril Adaire of Kaia, sets inspired by German Expressionist painting and film designed by Amy Luxenberger, and costumes that hint at the traditional but with a post-apocalyptic, punk rock flair created by B. Stryker Delong.

The show is free but donations are encouraged and accepted at intermission. There will be restrooms open sponsored by World Wide Automotive and snacks and drinks for sale.

Thank you to Bloomington Parks and Rec for Stage use.

Creative Team:

Director Sheila Butler
Fight Choreographer Steve Heise
Armorer/Dramaturge Jeffrey Huntsman
Costume Designer B. Stryker Delong
Music Design Cairril Adaire
Choreographer Kelly Dobkins
Set Designer Amy Luxenburger
Make up Artist Arthur Cullipher
Apparition Puppets Terri Klinglehoeffer
Publicity/Set Asst. Jennifer Whitaker
Stage Manager Anna Hughes
Asst. Stage Manager Dawn Maesch
Graphic Design Cameron Butler
Sound Compilation Prince Butler/Cameron Butler
Sound Board Carol Wilson

Cast in order of first appearance:

Forest: Betsy Higgens, Maryann Iaria, and Sara Raines
Witches – Clare Mattsson, Kelly Dobkins, Amy Luxenburger
Duncan – Roy Sillings
Malcolm – Silas Bruner
Donaldbain – Nathan Bock
Lennox – Eric Van Gucht
Various Attendants/messengers – Justin Brown and Chris LeTendre
Bleeding Sergeant – Andrew Bowen
Macbeth – Steve Heise
Banquo – Derrick Krober
Ross – Jeff Craft
Lady Macbeth – Jennifer Whitaker
Fleance – Nathan Bock
Porter – Roy Sillings
MacDuff – Jeffrey Huntsman
Old Man – Roy Sillings
Murderers –Andrew Bowen, Chris LeTendre
Hecate – Cairril Adaire
Lord – Andrew Bowen
Lady MacDuff – Emily Bedwell
MacDuff child – Claire Mattsson
Doctor – Roy Sillings
Gentlewoman –Kelly Dobkins
Young Siward – Nathan Bock
Mentieth – Andrew Bowen
Caithness – Chris LeTendre
Seyton – Derrick Krober
Angus – Nathan Bock
Old Siward – Amy Luxenburger

The Be More Awards is our community’s way of honoring and applauding the outstanding, but often unrecognized efforts of our community volunteers. Ten awards will be presented during the community celebration honoring all of the nominees at the event.

For more information please visit the website: https://www.bloomingtonvolunteernetwork.org/bemore

For our October 24 REVUE show, MCCT will give 50 people a whole TWO DOLLARS simply to be Audience!

HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?!?!? 

Over the last few years, the quality of our shows has been so good that reviewers have bemoaned that more people haven’t seen the show. The MCCT Board has decided to take a One-Hundred Dollar Advertising Budget and give it to YOU!

REVUE SHOW at 7pm at the MCPL LIBRARY AUDITORIUM

Our Revue shows are an initiative meant to allow people to perform who cannot commit to long rehearsal periods. More Community! This Revue will have Music! Maybe Dance! Humans dressed like Cats! Dementia Friendly! Great for Kids! WHAT’S NOT TO LOVE?!?!

Our first Shakespeare show of 2019 is May 17-19 at the Windfall Dance Studio. Check out what director Eric P. Van Gucht has to say about the show and get your tickets today at mcct.yapsody.com!

Twelfth Night was my first Shakespearean show as an actor, playing Fabian at Bloomington North as a senior in high school; nearly fifteen years later, I am so grateful to have a chance to do this show as a director. Revisiting it has given me a new insight into the brilliance of this play.

Times are obviously very strange right now. With this show, I want audiences to be able to laugh despite the ridiculousness, perhaps because of it. Additionally, this play’s subtitle is “Or What You Will.” We ask you to suspend your disbelief tonight, and a treasure of this play is that Shakespeare allows his audience a chance to be a part of the joke. Because of this, you may notice we’ve done some things a little differently, a little wink to the audience here and there (some subtle, others not so much).

For stylistic purposes, I wanted to go with a Carnival/Mardi Gras theme. I felt like the unabashed joy of the ceremonies, combined with the atmosphere that comes from the scenery and costumes, convey the message that it’s okay to be a little ridiculous sometimes.

Thanks to a wonderful cast/crew, co-workers, friends and family, who keep encouraging me.

Enjoy the show, and like Feste the jester says, “We’ll strive to please you every day.”

• Eric P. Van Gucht, director

Cast List:

Viola – Robin Pyle 
Sebastian – Micheal Harrison 
Orsino – Jason Howard 
Olivia – Katie Benson 
Feste – Zilia Balkansky-Selles 
Sir Toby Belch – Steve Heise
Sir Andrew Aguecheek – Jason Lopez 
Malvolio – Roy Sillings 
Maria – Heather Howard 
Fabian – Rhianna Jones 
Antonio – Mary Cusato 
Priest/Captain/Ensemble – Connie Temm 

Photos from Twelfth Night: