June is filled with drama at the Oxford Community Center as Shore Shakespeare presents “Macbeth” on June 10 and 11 at 7 p.m. and Brown Box Theatre presents “Brilliant Traces,” on June 16 at 8 p.m. Both productions bring unique opportunities to catch summer plays at their only Talbot County venue.
Shore Shakespeare Company presents its Spring 2016 tour production of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, directed by Shelagh Grasso. This most infamous of plays explores the darker side of the human soul as the title characters confront ambition, prophecy, temptation, and murder.
OCC is the last weekend and final venue for Macbeth with performances on Friday, June 10 and Saturday, June 11 at 7:00 pm. Weather permitting, the show will be outside on the lawn, in the event of bad weather, the play will take place inside the community center. Admission is free, though donations are appreciated, with proceeds benefiting the Shore Shakespeare Company and OCC. There will be hot dogs, chips, light refreshments, soda, water, and beer and wine available for purchase.
In the title roles, Greg Minahan and Avra Sullivan anchor a talented and experienced cast, including Chris Rogers as Macduff, Juanita Wieczoreck as Lady Macduff, Will Robinson as Banquo, Nick Roetzel as King Duncan, Adam Brome as Malcolm, and Brian McGunigle as Ross. Chelsea Clough, Sally Borghardt, and Jane Jewell appear as the three Weird Sisters, along with Christine Kinlock, Jane Terebey, and Samantha Davis. The ensemble also showcases the talents of Paul Briggs, Nic Carter, Andrew Mimms, John Terebey, Richard Smith, John Feldman, and Dane Long, along with Josh and Sam Hansen.
Director Shelagh Grasso presents an environmental production, performed in three-quarter thrust and without a stage, taking advantage of each venue’s unique situation and qualities. Actors move in and through the audience, integrating them into the action of the play.
Macbeth, the Thane of Glamis, a nobleman and a celebrated general in King Duncan’s army, has soundly defeated the invading Norwegians. On their way to the King, Macbeth and his friend and fellow general Banquo are confronted by a coven of witches, who hail them with prophecies: Macbeth shall become king; Banquo’s heirs will succeed to the throne. The prophecies seem to bear immediate fruit when Macbeth learns that he has been promoted. But the two men handle their prophecies very differently, with two very different outcomes. Events unfold which eventually lead Macbeth to question “the fiend that lies like truth,” and to his tragic, self-inflicted demise.
For more information about Shore Shakespeare and/or the production of The Tragedy of Macbeth, please visit https://www.shoreshakespeare.com/.
OCC is the only Mid-Shore venue for Brown Box Theatre’s “Brilliant Traces.” Thursday, June 16 at 8 p.m., is your one chance to see a show that opens in Boston, Mass., and goes to Ocean City and Salisbury. Tickets are $16. Beer and wine will be available for purchase.
Written by Cindy Lou Johnson and directed by Kyler Taustin, “Brilliant Traces” is set in a remote cabin nestled in the Alaskan wilderness, where Henry Harry sleeps alone as a blizzard rages outside. When he is awakened by a pounding at the door, a stranger stumbles in, dazed, and provides no explanation for her full bridal attire before falling asleep for two days. As Henry Harry cares for her, Rosannah dissects her reckless nonstop drive from an Arizona chapel, and the two are forced to navigate each other and reconcile their loneliness as they grapple with wounded pasts, gnawing regrets, and desperate fears in their struggle for survival in whiteout conditions.
Brown Box Theatre’s mission is to bring high-quality theatre to communities that otherwise lack access to the performing arts. The constant goal in all their programming is to bring down barriers that separate potential audiences from live theatre and to introduce the performing arts to the widest audience possible.
Brown Box works with Boston based talent to develop a diverse range of high quality theatre. These productions serve the Boston community and then tour in order to share all that the Boston Theatre Scene has to offer with audiences in Maryland, Delaware, and other communities that crave the performing arts.
For more information, or to buy tickets, visit https://www.brownboxtheatre.org/traces.html “Brilliant Traces” is funded in part by a grant from the Talbot County Arts Council. For more information on OCC or upcoming programs or events, please call 410-226-5904 or visit their website at www.oxfordcc.org.
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