Production Team Bios
DIRECTOR’S NOTE
It’s not an overstatement to say that this production feels like it has been 30 years in the making. I first encountered Macbeth, like many, in my high school sophomore English class. As I was preparing to direct this production, I reflected on all of the time I spent reading and studying the script over the past three decades. How could I distill 30 years of thoughts and ideas about this play into a seven week rehearsal process and the resulting two-and-a-half hour performance? An insurmountable task – so I set out to try to look at the play with fresh eyes.
Despite drawing on events from Scottish history, Shakespeare didn’t truly write a history play. It’s a work of fantasy-fiction that uses historical elements, but also also draws on current events from Shakespeare’s own time: the coronation of James VI of Scotland as King James I of England, an attempted violent overthrow of the government, anti-witch hysteria, and a significant breakout of the bubonic plague. It was this subtextual backdrop that Shakespeare used for his story of the allure of power, unbridled ambition, and the dark forces of the world that seek to exploit both. One doesn’t have to dig too deeply to see how timeless these themes are. And then there is the subject of time, itself. Shakespeare used an enormous amount of language addressing time in the script. And time is treated in a way that is compressed in the action of the play – even spinning out of control. Macbeth, himself, seems obsessed with time.
As I dug into the text, I soon found myself turning to the German Expressionist movement of the 1910s and 1920s (which included films like The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari and Nosferatu), in which characters’ inner turmoil skews the world around them. The artistic movement was a response to the horrors of the First World War – a conflict which helped shape the future of politics, warfare, and technology. This very quickly became a chief source of inspiration.
Our production of Macbeth may feel as though it’s teetering on the edges of the archaic and the modern, the realistic and the fantastic, even between waking and dreaming. That is where the story told in our production exists – and at any moment it may descend in one direction or another. For Macbeth, however, in his quest for power it all ends the same.
-Joe Hendren
Joe Hendren
Role: Director
Open Window Theatre: Nicholas (Co-Director), The Jeweler’s Shop (Actor), A Man for All Seasons (Director), Shadowlands (Actor), The Hobbit (Music)
REPRESENTATIVE THEATRE: Minneapolis Musical Theatre: Striking 12, Love Comics, Happy Days: A New Musical. TheatreX: Frost/Nixon, Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol, Escape THIS, The Haunting of Hill House. Lakeshore Players: Baskerville, Of Thee I Sing, Laura, The Royal Family, Count Dracula. The Phipps: The Lion in Winter, Muskie Love, Weekend Comedy, Always… Patsy Cline. Chameleon Theatre/Theatre Uncorked: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. Hamline University: Brecht’s Antigone.
UPCOMING: 4 Community Theatre: A 1940s Radio Christmas Carol. Open Window Theatre: Tolkien.
TRAINING: Hamline University.
LEARN MORE: www.theatrex.org
Lynn Seeling
Role: Stage Manager
Open Window Theatre: Debut
REPRESENTATIVE THEATER: Jeeves in Bloom, The Phipps, Hudson; Stage Directions, Theatre in the Round, Mpls.; The Giver, Lakeshore Players, White Bear Lake; Aadams Family: The Musical, Eden Prairie Players, Eden Prairie; Miss Nelson is Missing, Merrill Arts Center, Woodbury; Oliver, Faith Church, Hopkins; Noises Off, Expressions Theater, Lakeville; Savannah Sipping Society, Black Dirt, Hastings; Good Friday: Round One, 2017 MN Fringe Festival.
AWARDS: Internship, Guthrie Theater
TRAINING: BA in Technical Theater with emphasis in stage management and soft props, Southwest State University, Marshall, MN
UPCOMING: A 1940 Radio Christmas Carol and Into the Woods, both at 4CT, Plymouth.
THANKS: I am enjoying an “encore” career as a free-lance stage manager since 2017. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with this wonderful team. Many thanks to my husband of 47 years for his support and love.
Jonah Smith
Role: Macbeth
Open Window Theatre: The Living Water; Our Town; The Originalist; A Christmas Carol.
REPRESENTATIVE THEATRE: Drawbridge Collective: Hidden Falls (miniseries). Lakeshore Players: The Three Musketeers. Create Together Theater: Last Train to Nibroc. Lyric Arts: Christmas at Pemberley. Paul Bunyan Playhouse: Sylvia. UNW St. Paul: Much Ado About Nothing, Peter Pan, Beauty and the Beast, The Seagull.
TRAINING: University of Northwestern, St. Paul (B.S. Theatre)
LEARN MORE: https://www.jonahwsmith.com/ Instagram: jonah_w_smith98
Proverbs 16:3
Maretta Zillic
Role: Lady Macbeth
Open Window Theatre: Debut
REPRESENTATIVE THEATRE: (Selected List) Turtle Theatre Collective: What Would Crazy Horse Do? Uprising Theatre: In a Stand of Dying Trees Richmond Shakespeare Festival: Romeo & Juliet, King Lear, Comedy of Errors, A Midsummer Night’s Dream Human Race Theatre Company: Steel Magnolias Fearless Comedy Productions: The Riddle of the Mummy, Fearless Five: Dreams
TRAINING: St. Catherine University (BA Theatre Arts), Savannah College of Art and Design (MFA Performing Arts)
Noah Ratgen
Role: Macduff
Open Window Theatre: Debut.
REPRESENTATIVE THEATRE (select list): Utah Shakespeare Festival: Othello. Nashville Shakespeare Festival: Cymbeline. Hoosier Shakespeare Festival: Macbeth, Merry Wives of Windsor. Guthrie: A Christmas Carol. Children’s Theatre Company: Pippi Longstocking, Jackie & Me, Wizard of Oz, Diary of Wimpy Kid: The Musical (World Premiere). Classical Actors Ensemble: Twelfth Night.
UPCOMING: Open Window Theatre: A Christmas Carol
AWARDS: Society of American Fight Directors: 2023 National Stage Combat Workshop recipient of Best Performer Award.
TRAINING: Shenandoah Conservatory (B.F.A. Acting), Society of American Fight Directors (Advanced Actor Combatant), Commonwealth Shakespeare Company Apprentice.
LEARN MORE: Instagram: @noah.ratgen.
“This performance is dedicated to the loving memory of my Opa & Grandma Bernice.”
J. Antonio Teodoro
Role: Malcolm
Open Window Theatre: (debut)
REPRESENTATIVE THEATRE: (Prague Shakespeare Company: Romeo & Juliet, Merry Wives of Windsor. Six Points Theater: Torch Song. Pangea World Theater: Hecuba. Phoenix Theater: The Elephant. Theatre Under The Stars: Memphis. Unity Theatre TX: Pinocchio, Alice in Wonderland, Diary of Anne Frank)
TRAINING: Prague Shakespeare Company, University of Minnesota, Marymount Manhattan College
Peter Colburn
Role: Banquo
Open Window Theatre: Our Town, Lillies of the Field
REPRESENTATIVE THEATRE:
Red Tail Entertainment: A Smokey Mountain Christmas Carol. Nebraska Theatre Caravan: The Taming Of The Shrew, Animal Farm. The Jungle Theatre: Dial M, For Murder. Playhouse On The Square: A Streetcar Named Desire, Greater Tuna, Uncle Vanya. Vanguard Repertory: Twelfth Night. The Circuit Theatre: Sherlock’s Last Case. Bucket Brigade: Kingdom Undone, Sam’s Son. Hero Now Theatre: Terra Nova, A Thing Of Beauty. Troupe America: Ghost Stories.
Website: Peter-colburn.com
Haley McCormick Jenkins
Roles: Lady Macduff, Captain, Attendant (A1.S6), Gentlewoman
Open Window Theatre: Debut
REPRESENTATIVE THEATRE: (Selected List) Lakeshore Players: Calendar Girls Frosted Glass Creative: Midsummer Night’s Dream Dangerous Productions: All Your White Darlings, Choices Wasatch Theatre Co: You Got Older, Wit, A Bright New Boise Pygmalion Productions: Two Headed, Mockingbird, Remington and Weasel Grand Theatre: Noises Off Good Company Theatre: Constellations.
TRAINING: University of the Arts (BFA in Acting) Williamstown Theatre Festival (Apprentice)
LEARN MORE: IG: @mccormickh1 Thanks to Andy and the girls.
Nick Manthe
Roles: Lennox, Soldier (A5.S4)
Open Window Theatre: Foshay! The Musical
REPRESENTATIVE THEATRE: (Minneapolis Musical Theatre:Striking Twelve!, Be More Chill
Old World New World: Uncle Vanya
Rosetown Players: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Mixed Precipitation: Hit the Wall South Dakota Shakespeare Festival: A Comedy of Errors, Winter’s Tale, Macbeth Phipps Center for the Arts: Muskie Love
TRAINING: (B.F.A. Musical Theater)
LEARN MORE: nickmanthe.com
Thank you to my friends and family for your unending support. You all inspire me to be the best I can be every day.
Rae Wasson
Roles: Witch 1, Young Siward, Third Murderer
Open Window Theatre: Debut.
REPRESENTATIVE THEATRE: Theatre Elision: Penelope. Lakeshore Players: The 20th Annual 10-Minute Play Festival, Little House on the Prairie: The Musical. Lyric Arts: Our Town. Thin Air Theatre: Julius Caesar, The Winter’s Tale. Brick by Brick Players: Cymbeline. InterMission Theatre: Ordinary Days, Ghost Quartet.
UPCOMING: Theatre Elision: Hundred Days.
TRAINING: University of Wisconsin-Madison
LEARN MORE: www.raewasson.com
“All my love and thanks to my family and to Reez!”
Meg Bradley
Roles: Witch 2, Doctor (A5.S1&3), Second Murderer
Open Window Theatre: Debut
REPRESENTATIVE THEATRE: Sod House Theatre: RARE, Rochester Civic Theatre: Blithe Spirit, Steel Magnolias, Addams Family Musical, Orchard Theatre: St. Joan, Theatre Coup d’Etat: Rogue Prince, Et Tu Brute, Pangea: Mother Courage, History Theatre: Servant’s Christmas, Gold in the Streets, Lindbergh Festival CTC: Clown of God, Cinderella, King Arthur and the Magic Sword, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Company member of Theatre de la Jeune Lune: Cirque de Moliere, Ubu for President, 1929, The Kitchen, Red Noses, Cyrano, Seven Dwarfs. InterMission Theatre: Ordinary Days, Ghost Quartet.
Playwright: JungleTheatre Tossin’Junk
Music: Basilica Mundus Choir, LeagueAires Singers
Training: U of MN BFA Theatre, Dance Minor
Awards: Newberry Award for Creativity UWMC
Thanks to my adult children, boyfriend, neighbors, other family, and Dr. Price.
Kaitlin Klemencic
Roles: Witch 3, Menteith, First Murderer
Open Window Theatre: Debut
REPRESENTATIVE THEATRE: Theatre Latte Da:Merrily We Roll Along Theatre Elision:A Flight of Short Musicals, Ruthless Lyric Arts: A Chorus Line, The Mystery of Edwin Drood Clevername Theatre: Macbeth,Twelfth Night Skylark Opera Theatre: Amahl and the Night Visitors Shoot the Glass: Company, Into the Woods The Gilbert&Sullivan Very Light Opera Company: Orpheus in the Underworld, Ruddigore, Princess Ida Theatre in the Round: Black Comedy, Red Hot&Cole
TRAINING: Nebraska Wesleyan University (B.F.A. Theatre Arts with an emphasis in musical theatre) (Secondary Education Degree)
LEARN MORE: kaitlinklemencic.com
Infinite amounts of love and thanks to family, friends, P, Z and the wickedly talented Macbeth team!
Peter Aitchison
Roles: Duncan, Siward
Open Window Theatre: Debut
REPRESENTATIVE THEATRE: Lyric Arts : TheMystery of Edwin Drood, Bright Star, Urinetown Theatre in the Round: The Government Inspector, Hero Now: Terra Nova, The Orestia, The Importance of Being Earnest Classical Actors Ensemble: Tis Pity She’s a Whore Meadowbrook: Noises Off
UPCOMING; Open Window Theatre: A Christmas Carol
TRAINING: Wayne State University, MFA, Stratford Shakespeare Festival
LEARN MORE; Dedicated to the memory of my father, Gary and brother Steve. Special thanks to all involved with this production and my family for their encouragement and support.
Aaron Ruder
Roles: Ross, Apparition 3
Open Window Theatre: The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge
REPRESENTATIVE THEATRE: Queered Classics: Arms and the Man. Theatre in the Round: Sherwood:The Adventures of Robin Hood. Cromulent Shakespeare: The Tempest. Hero Now Theatre: Terra Nova. Six Elements Theatre: Hound of Chulainn, Childe Roland To the Dark Tower Came, She Kills Monsters. Theatre Coup d’Etat: Macbeth, A Streetcar Named Desire, Romeo and Juliet
TRAINING: BA Theatre Arts and Drama, Eureka College, SAFD Actor Combatant
John Goodrich
Roles: Angus, Porter
Open Window Theatre: Our Town
REPRESENTATIVE THEATRE: TheatreX: Frost/Nixon. Lakeshore Players Theatre: Noises Off. Theatre Coup d’Etat: Pyrates. Minneapolis Musical Theatre: Hands on a Hardbody. Theatre in the Round: The Comedy of Errors, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Metromaniacs, The Canterville Ghost. Shoot the Glass Theatre: Spring Awakening, Into the Woods. Lex-Ham Community Theatre: Caucasian Chalk Circle. Aethem Theatre: Persuasion. Chameleon Theatre Circle: Sideshow, Catch Me If You Can.
Upcoming: Hidden Falls (locally produced web series)
Dylan Sauder
Roles: Fleance, Apparition 2, Messenger (A4.S2), Servant (A5.S3), Messenger (A5.S5)
Open Window Theatre: Debut
REPRESENTATIVE THEATRE: Lyric Arts: The Last Five Years. Bunce Performing Arts: Bright Star, A Christmas Carol: The Musical. LaMarca Theatre: Puffs.
TRAINING: University of Northwestern – St. Paul
Thanks to my family, friends, & the stellar humans involved in this production.
1 Cor. 10:31 – Soli Deo Gloria.
Tom Burr
Roles: Young Macduff, Seyton, Messenger (A1.S5), Servant (A2.S1, A3.S1-2 & 4)
Open Window Theatre: Dante’s Inferno
REPRESENTATIVE THEATER: Theater in the Round Players: Sherwood, The Mysterious Affair at Styles. The University of Mary: Endgame, The 39 Steps, Saint Joan
TRAINING: University of Mary Theater Program
Gabrielle Jones
Roles: Donalbain, Apparition 1
Open Window Theatre: Debut
REPRESENTATIVE THEATRE: Full Circle Theatre Company: ANON(ymous) Lakeshore Players: Three Musketeers Lyric Arts and Long Beach Playhouse: Miss Bennet: Christmas At Pemberley Paul Bunyan Playhouse: Brighton Beach Memoirs Phoenix Theatre: Much Ado About Nothing La Mirada Theatre: The Diary of Anne Frank, Afflicted: Daughters of Salem
TRAINING: Chapman University, BFA Theatre Performance
LEARN MORE: find Gabi across her social media platforms @gabis_vintage
Tolu Ekisola
Roles: Caithness, Lord (A3.S6)
Open Window Theatre: Debut
REPRESENTATIVE THEATRE: Mixed Blood Theatre: The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington, Yellow Tree Theatre: Once Upon A Time… Josephine Baker, Stage North: Aint Misbehavin’, New Swan Shakespeare: Joan of Arc, Midsummer’s Nights Dream, Julius Caesar, Nebraska Shakespeare: Hamlet, All’s Well That Ends Well, Renegade Theatre: Lizzie The Musical, Theatre In The Round: Godspell, Lyric Arts: Godspell, Hairspray, B & B Theatre: Princess and The Frog
UPCOMING: Yellow Tree Theatre: Steele Magnolias
TRAINING: Ordway Theatre: Greenroom Fellowship, University of California Irvine MFA, University of Minnesota Duluth BFA, Renegade Improv, Matchbox Theatre Apprentice.
LEARN MORE: www.toluekisola.com (http://www.toluekisola.com) or @toluekisola on Instagram.
Mason Tyer
Role: Fight Director & Intimacy Coach
Open Window Theatre: Mercy Unrelenting, The Originalist, The World Over
REPRESENTATIVE THEATRE: Minnesota Opera: Romeo et Juliet; Elixer of Love; Carmen; Silent Night. Children’s Theatre Company: Head Over Heels (High-School Edition). Duluth Playhouse: Misery. Full Circle Theatre Company; They Wear Teal Ribbons Around Their Tongues; Anon(ymous); Antigonick. Theatre in the Round: She Kills Monsters; Sherwood; True West. Six Elements Theatre: Lord of the Rings Live; Kill B; John Blade; Human Combat Chess; Hound of Chulainn; Childe Roland; She Kills Monsters Frosted Glass Creative: Romeo and Juliet; Seven Keys. Lakeshore Players: Three Musketeers. Grey Mallard Theatre: Romeo and Juliet. Teatro del Pueblo: Love in a Time of Hate. Phipps Center for the Arts: Arsenic and Old Lace; Jeeves in Bloom; Tuck Everlasting; 9 to 5
UPCOMING at Open Window: Joan of Arc
TRAINING: The Society of American Fight Directors: Michael Anderson; Mike Lubke, Art in Arms; Aaron Preusse, Fake Fighting Company. Meisner technique, Rich Remedios. B.A. Performing Arts, Iowa State University
LEARN MORE: masontyer.com, or @masonthetyerant
Macbeth Crew & Designers
Jeremy Stanbary (Artistic Director & Sound Designer)
Robin McIntyre (Scenic Designer & Lead Scenic Artist)
Nate Farley (Props Designer & Asst. Scenic Artist)
Nate has been with OWT since Season 2 and is now our resident designer and scenic artist. Nate is a Librarian by day and a freelance designer/actor by night. He was last seen on the Open Window stage in our production of Leaving Iowa last season. He also shares his many talents with a variety of other theater and film companies in the area, in addition to serving as the Resident House Manager for Open Window Theatre.
A. Emily Heaney (Costume Designer)
Alex Clark (Lighting Designer)
Open Window Theatre: Foshay: The Musical
REPRESENTATIVE THEATRE:
Phipps Center: Jeeves In Bloom, Tuck Everlasting, 9 To 5, Murdered to Death, Something Rotten, The Lion In Winter, Muskie Love. Lakeshore Players: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, She Loves Me, The Three Musketeers. Yellow Tree Theatre: Dial M For Murder, Toil and Trouble, Lady Day
UPCOMING: Yellow Tree Theatre: Steel Magnolias
TRAINING: University of Minnesota – Morris: BA in theatre, social science, history, and international relations.
University of Minnesota: MFA in lighting design
LEARN MORE: www.clarklighting.net
Renée Sellner (Board Operator)