Cast & Crew Bios
DUSTIN BROWN (Director) is a third year MFA candidate in the School of Theatre’s directing program. While attending Ohio University, Dusty has directed Bug, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Constellations, and Pluto. Before moving to Ohio, Dusty served as Associate Artistic Director of Georgia Ensemble Theatre in Atlanta. Previous directing includes Sweeney Todd, The Choephori, Albee’s Finding the Sun, Bat Boy: The Musical, and Williams ’The Chalky White Substance. All of my love to my fiancee, Piper Kirchhofer, who’s unending support made this possible.
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ROBERTO Di DONATO (Assistant Director) is a multi-disciplinary theater maker. Most recently he was commissioned by Fusebox Festival in partnership with Texas Performing Arts to make a digital, live, television, interactive videogame mash-up titled K ! :D D: Ö. Other work at Ohio University includes The Women of Lockerbie by Deborah Brevoort and a new play by Kirk Lynn titled Effective Magic. Roberto is the Associate Producing Director for Tantrum Theater and the Executive Producer for Vibrancy Theater. Upcoming, Roberto will be producing the premiere of a new play titled Absentia written by Olivia Matthews, with Vibrancy Theater. He will be directing Everybody by the Pulitzer Prize finalist Branden Jacobs Jenkins.
JACOB MIDKIFF is the director of photography, editor, and colorist of MacBeth. Jacob earned his Master’s Degree from the Ohio University School of Film in cinematography in 2020 after having received his Bachelor’s Degree from the Ohio University School of Media in 2016. While living in Athens, he’s had the privilege to teach film in both the School of Film and on the London Fine Arts Study Abroad program, work on dozens of colleague’s projects, shoot commercials for local businesses and artists, and make his own films in the meantime. His work on MacBeth might be one of the final staples in his Athen’s career, and will hopefully showcase much of what he’s learned while living in the unique little world that is Athens, Ohio.
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MICHAEL DIAS (Macbeth) MFA, Acting, Third Year. Ohio University: People, Places and Things (Mark), Perfect Arrangement (Bob), Rhinoceros (Berenger), Bug (Peter), Cabaret (Herr Schultz). Other: Hamlet (Rosencrantz) Athens on Tap, The Truth* (Jean-Pierre) A Muse Zoo Theatre Company, What Goes Around (Eli) Kaiser Permanente Educational Theatre, Semper Fight (Charlie Martinez) Breaking Glass Pictures. Co-Founder of A Muse Zoo Theatre Company.
COURTNEY ABBOTT (Lady Macbeth) [she/they] MFA, Acting, Third Year. Ohio University: People, Places, &Things (Doctor/Therapist/Mum), Pluto (Cerberus), Bug (Agnes), Cabaret (Fraulein Schneider), The Wolves (Soccer Mom). Other: Hamlet (Hamlet) Athens on Tap; As You Like It (Touchstone) First Folio Theatre. For twelve years they toured as Woman in Sex Signals for Catharsis Productions. Courtney received her BS in Theatre from Northwestern University.
E.B. SMITH (Duncan, co-Fight Director, Text Director) is an actor, director, fight coordinator, producer, consultant, and arts administrator. As a performer he has worked for over twenty years professionally on stage and screen across the country and internationally at theatres such as Karamu House, Cleveland Playhouse, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Victory Gardens, Great Lakes Theatre Festival, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Grand Theatre, and over 35 productions as a member of the Stratford Festival acting company. Favorite roles include the title role in August Wilson’s King Hedley II, Duke Orsino in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, Othello in Shakespeare’s Othello, and Martin Luther King Jr. in The Mountaintop by Katori Hall. An alumnus of the BFA Acting program here at Ohio University, E.B. is nearing completion of his Master of Arts Administration degree, and will begin his doctoral studies in Interdisciplinary Arts in the fall. He dedicates his work to the memory of his grandparents who will forever be in the front row, and to his parents who are his most ardent supporters, mentors, collaborators, and friends.
It has been a joy for him to see this project come to fruition despite such overwhelming odds and he would like to thank all of the cast and crew, particularly Dusty, for their dedication and care through this process.
AVERY LaMAR POPE (Malcolm) is a storyteller from Cleveland, OH. He tells stories through many different mediums including acting, music, poetry, playwriting, and movement. His past roles include Shederick Yarkpai in Objects in the Mirror (Tantrum Theater), Militant Revolutionary in This Is Not What I Expected When I Imagined a Republic (Tantrum Theater), and Cafe Proprietor/Ensemble in Rhinoceros (Tantrum Theater).
MAKAYLA FRANKLIN (Fleance) is a sophomore BFA Acting major with a Dance minor at Ohio University. Her past roles at OU include being a member of the ensemble in "People, Places, & Things" this past fall and the role of Audrey in a lab show called "An Abstinent Orgy". She's originally from Denver, Colorado and is enjoying experiencing spring in Athens without snow!
KARI WILLENBRINK (Macduff) [she/her] BFA, Acting, Fourth Year. Ohio University: People, Places, and Things (Jodi), She Kills Monsters (Evil Tina), Big Love (Eleanor), Engagements (Catherine). Other: Hamlet (Fortinbras) Hamlet on Tap, The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Florika) Ohio Valley Summer Theater, The Rocky Horror Picture Show (The Lips) Lost Flamingo Theater Company. Film: Quiet on Set (Young Woman) Dir. Jeanette Buck.
HANNAH McCAULEY (First Sister/Seyton) BFA, Acting, Fourth Year. Ohio University: She Kills Monsters (Lilith), Silent Sky (Williamina), Sunny Days (Marie), The Wolves (#00). Other: This is Not What I Expected When I Imagined a Republic (Ilé) Tantrum Theater, The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Esmeralda), Pippin (Ensemble) Ohio Valley Summer Theatre, The Odd Couple (Female Version) (Sylvie) Lost Flamingo Theatre Company.
AYANA JOHNSON (Donalbain) is currently a student at Ohio University studying acting and plays Donalbain in the production of Macbeth. She has been acting all her life and starred in many short films and shows. She went to high school at Butler Tech School of the Arts and majored in acting and voice. Ayana grew up in Missouri and Ohio and still resides in Ohio.
SARA SAHO (Ross) BFA Acting, Fourth Year. Ohio University: Angels in America: Millennium Approaches (Harper/Martin), Perfect Arrangement (Millie), Big Love (Lydia), Sunny Days (Carly). Other: Twelfth Night (Viola), Guys and Dolls (Hot Box Chick), Merchant of Venice (Jessica), Cabaret (Helga, Gorilla) Pioneer Summer Theater.
HEATHER HARRIS (Lady Macduff) is a Junior in the BFA Acting Program at Ohio University. She is playing Lady Macduff. She is so happy she got the opportunity to be able to play such an empowering mother. She has also loved to opportunity that she was given to be on another film. Jacob and the team were amazing to work with. She has also been in another show at OU which was She Kills Monsters.
AARON M. GATES (Second Sister/Porter) BFA, Acting, Fourth Year. Ohio University: Romeo and Juliet (Peter). Other: This Is Not What I Expected When I Imagined a Republic (Demtown Jackson/Ensemble) Tantrum Theater, The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Jehan/Ensemble) Ohio Valley Summer Theater.
MANDA NEAL [she/her/hers] (Banquo): MFA Acting, Third year. Ohio University: This is Not What I Expected When I Imagined A Republic (LHD), Silent Sky (Henrietta Leavitt), New Play Festival Sibyl (Dixi), 365 Days/ 365 Plays (Wife 3/Ensemble). Other: Oedipus (Jocasta) Appalachian Artist Collective; Hedda Gabler (Thea) Alban Arts Center; The Lost Colony (US Queen Elizabeth I/Ensemble) Waterside Theatre Company; Edgar (I nothing am) (The Oval Portrait/Alone) Rawhide Theatre Company. BFA in Theatre Performance and Dance minor from Marshall University.
KeSHAWN MELLON [he/him/his] (Lennox) is currently a senior in the Acting program. At Ohio University, he has performed in Macbeth (Lennox), People, Places, and Things (T), She Kills Monsters (Chuck), Engagements (Ryan), and Twink! (man.) His film credits include Moving Furniture (dir. Ian LaBarge), Censor (dir. Jake Haire), The Big Game (dir. Steven Kachurick), Laid (dir. Maxwell Williams), The Good Days (dir. Michelle David), and One Fine Morning (dir. Will Fowler.) Outside of Ohio University, he has performed in the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's Plays to Progress reading of Leftovers as Kwamaine. Additionally, he attended the National Theater Institute's summer program Theatermakers in 2019, where he was awarded the Miranda Family Scholarship and became a Miranda Family Fellow, where he recently performed in their annual showcase. Last spring, he received the Blackburn Spencer Achievement award. In the following summer, he co-founded the student-run theater: Vibrancy Theater, where he is currently the Co-Artistic Director. At the end of this year, he will be graduating and completing his BFA training.
ABBY GOLDEN (Young Macduff): First Year BFA Musical Theater. Parade (Iola Stover) French Creek Theater; Almost, Maine (Shelly), Crimes of the Heart (Babe Botrelle) St. Ignatius Breen Center; Into the Woods (Little Red) Lorain Community Music Theater; Junie B. Jones: The Musical (Junie B.) Cleveland Playhouse Academy
HANNAH WOODSIDE (Third Sister) is a fourth year in the BFA acting studio. Ohio University: People, Places, & Things (Charlotte), Effective Magic (Filly), Romeo and Juliet (Ensemble), Cabaret (Ensemble), Blackbird (Girl). The Cleveland Shakespeare Festival: Troilus and Cressida (Cressida), The Taming of the Shrew (Biondello/Curtis). Other credits include: Young Frankenstein (Ensemble) Chagrin Valley Little Theatre, The Music Man (Ensemble) Cain Park. For more information check out her website
PIPER KIRCHHOFER is a third year MFA Lighting Design candidate. OU credits: “Romeo and Juliet” (Lighting Design) Fall 2021 “The Women of Lockerbie” (Lighting Design) “Silent Sky” (Assistant Lighting Design). Other credits include: “Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol” (Assistant Design) “Morningside,” (Lighting Design) “Buddy! The Buddy Holly Story,” (Lighting Design) and “Having Our Say, The Delaney Sisters First 100 Years” (Lighting Design).
HARPER JUSTUS (Sound Designer) BFA, Production Design and Technology, Third Year. Sound Designer: Little Women, Women of Lockerbie, Pluto. Assistant Sound Designer: Sunny Days. A2: Cabaret, She Kills Monsters. Festivals: 2021 Texas Shakespeare Festival (Sound Intern), 2019 Marietta College Summer Theatre Festival (Sound Designer and Engineer) Film: Macbeth dir. Dustin Brown (Foley Engineer), An Illiad dir. Emily Penick (Recording Engineer and Production Mixer).
MARY ATCHLEY (Technical Director) has been the technical director of She Kills Monsters and Holly Down in Heaven here at Ohio University. She has also technical directed The Roommate at Bristol Valley Theatre. She is a third-year graduate student who received here Bachelor’s degree from Valparaiso University. She spent two years at Playhouse on the Square in Memphis as their scenic charge. She is looking forward to the reopening of traditional theatre productions and the adventures awaiting after Ohio University.
GRAYSON BASINA is a Third year MFA, Scenic Design; Ohio university, Silent Sky (Scenic Design), Macbeth(Scenic Design), Angels in America (Digital Scenic Design), Stitched with a Sickle and Hammer(Scenic Design). Winnipesaukee playhouse, Narnia(Scenic design). University Wisconsin Platteville; Or, (Scenic design). BFA in theater production, University of Wisconsin Platteville. Thank you for coming and enjoy the movie!
NICOLAS BARTLESON (Assistant Stage Manager & CCO) Nick is a 3rd year student at Ohio University pursuing a BFA Production Design and Technology (Props Technology) and a BFA Stage Management. His credits include: . Ohio University (Stage Manager): Women of Lockerbie, Effective Magic. Ohio University (Assistant Stage Manager): Macbeth, Big Love, Romeo and Juliet. Ohio University (Props Master): BeHead, Angels in America. Ohio University (Assistant Props Master): Silent Sky, Objects in the Mirror. Ohio University (Props Artisan): Spring Awakening, Macbeth, She Kills Monsters, Rhinoceros, Romeo and Juliet, Holly Down in Heaven, Carbret. Texas Shakespeare Festival 2020 & 2021 (Properties Intern), Tantrum Theater Summer Festival 2019 (Production Assistant). Film: Truck Fishing in America (Co-Head of Art Department).
BRIAN DAVID EVANS (Co-Fight Director). Brian has performed at theaters including South Coast Repertory, Tantrum Theater, Human Race Theatre, Greenbrier Valley Theatre, CATCO, Porthouse Theatre, and the Colorado, Illinois, and Oxford Shakespeare Festivals. Film and Television credits include Chapelle’s Show, Judging Amy and Claire in Motion. Brian teaches at Ohio University and is an Associate Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework and a Certified Teacher with the Society of American Fight Directors.
SARA KELLER is a Fibers Artist and Costume Designer from Chicago, Illinois. She is a graduate of Maryland Institute College of Art with a BFA in Fibers. Sara is currently a MFA candidate in Production Design and Technology at Ohio University.
She is skilled in costume illustration, costume crafts and garment construction. Process is an overarching theme in all of her work. This includes time intensive procedures, accumulation of materials and repeated imagery. These meditative techniques allow for self reflection and perfection of her craft.
Sara is also passionate about researching costume history. By understanding where people come from, she is better able to build stories based in reality while empowering others to share their personal narrative.
ALYSSA EMBRY (Props Master) BFA, Prop Technology, Fourth Year. Ohio University: 365 Plays/365 Days (Props Master), Bug (Props Master/Scenic Design), Silent Sky (Props Master), Perfect Arrangement (Props Master/Scenic Design), Romeo and Juliet (Asst. Props Master), She Kills Monsters (Asst. Props Master), People, Places & Things (Asst. Props Master), Women of Lockerbie (Props Master). Other: Tantrum Theater’s 2018 season (Props Artisan) and Central City Opera’s 2019 season (Props Artisan). Film: Medicaid Equity Simulation Project (Set Dresser/ Props Artisan) and Truck Fishing in America (Co-Artistic Director)
ABIGAIL COPPOCK is a second year MFA, Sound Design; Ohio university, Pluto (Sound Design), Perfect Arrangement (Sound Design), Effective Magic (Sound Design), Angels in America (Sound Design), and Macbeth (Sound Design and Composer). BFA Theatre and Communication Arts, Gannon University. Thank you to everyone who put so much time and effort on this production!
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RUTH KENNEDY (Assistant Costume Designer) is a second-year undergraduate in the Production, Design and Technology BFA program at OHIO University. With a background in acting, art, and design, this is Ruth’s debut in costume design. She plans to continue designing sets and costumes in upcoming seasons with passion and dedication.
ANIL SRIVASTHA is a filmmaker and animator who originally hails from Chennai, India. He is the production sound mixer for Macbeth. Anil is getting his MFA in Film Production at Ohio University and he has written, directed and edited several short-form narrative films as part of his coursework.
He is passionate about sharing his knowledge and experience about film editing with freshman students. In collaboration with the School of Film, Anil helped create a film editing fundamentals course where students have the opportunity to a hands-on approach to learning the technical aspects of Adobe Premiere Pro along with learning aesthetic principles of film editing by studying film editors working in the industry.