Count the Thane of Cawdor among the newly unemployed. North Carolina Shakespeare Festival has just announced that it has axed Macbeth from its 2009 schedule “to weather this unprecedented economic downturn.” That leaves NCSF with a “season” that includes a single production, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, previewing on September 19-20, opening on September 24, and shuttering on October 4.
Cirque du Soleil marvel Karl Baumann will portray Puck up in High Point, reprising the role he played at Theatre Charlotte and NCSF, in separate productions directed by Steve Umberger, in 2003. Other announced cast members include Hugh O’Gorman, reprising his dual roles as Duke Theseus and King Oberon, and John Woodson, returning to the role of Bottom, the role he played in High Point during the Festival’s infancy in 1979. Festival co-founder Stuart Brooks returns to action as Snout – and to assist NCSF’s administrative staff with the challenge of fundraising.
Macduff’s layoff will end in 2010 if all goes well, according to NCSF managing and artistic director Pedro Silva. Plans are to regroup, refinance, and reschedule Macbeth in tandem with a yet-to-be selected comedy in fall 2010. The 2009 production of Midsummer will tie it for first place among the most-produced Shakespeare plays at the Festival. Much Ado About Nothing and The Taming of the Shrew are currently tied for the lead with five productions each at NCSF since 1977. The “Scottish Play” figures to make it a four-way tie in 2010.
This article appears in Jun 30 – Jul 7, 2009.
