Macbeth

Kim Shively is an Associate Professor at Elon University where she teaches acting and directs. She is also Associate Faculty with Theatrical Intimacy Education. A member of Actors’ Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA, professional acting credits include: Shakespeare Orange County, Laguna Playhouse, and the Asolo Rep; roles on Guiding Light, As the World Turns, The Young and the Restless, CSI:Miami; and over a dozen national commercials. She is the co-author of Applied Meisner for the 21st Century Actor (Routledge) and a number of peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. Shively travels around the world working as a theatrical intimacy educator and practitioner with an emphasis on working with minors. Shively earned a BFA in Theatre Performance at Chapman University and an MFA at the FSU/Asolo Conservatory. Learn more at www.KimShivelyCreative.com and www.21CActor.com.

J. McMerty Director of Elon in Los Angeles, Assistant Professor Cinema & TV Arts.

Kevin Otos grew up in Southern California where he learned to love the beaches and the mountains as well as acting. He developed his passion for theatre in Oregon and ultimately graduated with his MFA in Acting from Florida State University's Asolo Conservatory where he studied with an outstanding faculty, including the legendary director of Eugene O’Neill's plays, the Tony Award winning José Quintero. Screen credits include One Tree Hill, Necessary Roughness, and Underground as well as several independent films, commercials, and industrials. Favorite stage roles include Antony in Julius Caesar and Leo Tressler in Junk. Also a director for the stage, some favorite productions include American La Ronde, Cherry Orchard, Twelfth Night, his own adaptation of Servant of Two Masters, and the North American premier of Simon Stephen’s Pornography. Learn more about Kevin at kevinotos.com.

JP has served as the Performing Arts Technical Director since Fall 2017. Prior to Elon, he worked as a lead craftsperson and project manager on productions such as Paw Patrol Live. Outside of Elon, he continues work as a freelance technical designer on productions such as the Frozen Australian Tour, The Beauty and the Beast in Shanghai, and The Phantom of the Opera World Tour. In his free time, JP builds custom furniture and runs an ever-increasing number of virtual Dungeons & Dragons campaigns. He couldn’t do any of this without the constant support of his amazing partner.

Jack is an Associate Professor of Performing Arts. He has worked at many regional theaters from The Orlando Shakespeare Theater to The Actor’s Theater of Louisville. He spends most of his summers either working at a small theater in Missouri (City of Maples Rep) or traveling the world looking at textiles, antique garments, or cultural wonders. His passions include antique textiles (specifically American Women’s Costume from the 19th century and the politics of 18th-century French fashions) and his dog, Neha!

Interim Technical Director and alum of the TDT department. Happy to be back at Elon, and to be putting on this show.

Greg Thorn is the Technical Director for Cultural Programs at Elon University, as well as a freelance lighting designer. Some of his lighting design credits include Legally Blonde, Mamma Mia!, Cabaret, and The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Greg recently received his M.F.A in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Lighting Design from the University of Idaho in December of 2022.

Natalie Taylor Hart is a Scenic Designer and the Associate Chair of Performing Arts at Elon University. Selected Scenic Designs: New York: Tech Support (59E59TH, Off-Broadway); Tartuffe (Queens Theatre, Off-Off-Broadway); Slave Shack (Algonquin Theatre); Associate Designer for The Wiz (The Netherlands). Regional: Life in the Fat Lane (Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park); Having Our Say, Our Town {Scenic Consultant}, Fences {Finalist in World Stage Design 2017 Taipei}, White Lightning (Triad Stage). Exhibitions: USITT Design Expo, Prague Quadrennial, World Stage Design Finalist 2017, Lincoln Center Portfolio Review. MFA, Ohio University. Proud member of IATSE USA Local 829. natalietaylorhart.com

Blaine Bentsen is a senior BFA Acting major from Greensboro, NC. They plan on moving to NYC in June post-graduation. Previous Elon Credits: Beethoven in Dog Sees God, Gus/Augustus Coverly in Arcadia, and Student U/S in American La Ronde. TV/Film credits: S2 E5 of Step Up High Water (YouTube Premium), Stealth (dir. Astor Stark) which premiered at OutFest 2019, and Babysplitters (dir. Sam Friedlander). @blainebentsen

Markley Bortz (she/her) is a senior acting major at Elon University. She is excited to be returning to the Elon mainstage in The Inferior Sex. Previous Elon productions include The Cherry Orchard, Pheromone, Macbeth, and Clown Bar. Instagram @markleysara_b

Will Bruno is a senior Acting and Psychology double major from Stamford, CT. Elon Productions: Violet (Leroy Evans), Macbeth (King Duncan u/s), Bent (Kapo, Uncle Freddie u/s). Other roles include Gregory, Romeo and Juliet (Curtain Call Community Theatre), Moonface Martin, Anything Goes (Westhill High School), and Uncle Fester, The Addams Family (Westhill High School). Will is ecstatic to be making his Elon mainstage debut and has had a fabulous time working with this incredible team.

Preston Coleman (Macbeth) is a senior BFA Acting major from Charleston, SC. As a proud Scotsman, he is so excited to share The Scottish Play with all of you! Elon credits include Laertes (Hamlet) and John (Baby With the Bathwater). Thanks to Acting ’21 for being by his side for four wonderful years, his friends and family for their constant love and support, and Prof. Kim Shively and Kevin Otos for their guidance throughout this amazing production and his Elon career as a whole. Enjoy the show! Instagram: @jprestoncoleman

Hannah Elise Brown is a senior with majors in Arts Administration and Theatrical Design and Technology, with concentrations in stage management and lighting design and a minor in Business Administration. She is so excited to be able to be the lighting designer for both Concord Floral and Inferior Sex along with the stage manager for Clue! Some of her past credits at Elon include Movin' On (Lighting Designer) and Fall Dance Concert 2021 (Stage Manager/Lighting Designer). She would like to thank her family and friends, as she would not be able to do this without them!

Sydney Dye is a current senior studying Theatrical Design & Technology and Communication Design. This year, Sydney is very excited to be producing her Lumen project #silenced, with the help of many fellow Performing Arts students. She was a video design intern at The Muny in 2019, and returned as a production editor for The Muny Summer Variety Hour series in 2020. Her select Elon credits include, We Will Rock You (projection designer), Trojan Barbie (projection designer), The Wolves (stage manager) and Bent (stage manager). Sydney would like to thank her friends and family for their constant support.

Hana is a senior acting major from Westchester, New York and is beyond grateful to be taking her final bow here at Elon in The Cherry Orchard. Prior Elon credits include Macbeth, Hamlet and School for Wives. Hana would like to thank the amazing The Cherry Orchard team for being a dream to work with. Special thanks also go to all of her friends and family for their endless support and love. She hopes you enjoy the show!hanaeddib.com | @hanaeddib on Instagram

Haley Covington is a Senior B.F.A. Acting and B.A. Arts Administration double major from Franklin, Tennessee. Elon credits include Marianne in Sense and Sensibility, Witch 2 in Macbeth, #8 U/S in The Wolves, and Petunia U/S in Clown Bar. Professional credits include Feste (U/S) in Twelfth Night at Great River Shakespeare Festival. Instagram: @haleycovington

Emily is a senior Theatrical Design and Technology major and is thrilled to be working as the Scenic Charge on the mainstage Spring productions this year! All my love to the TDT department (past & present). You make this worth it. <3

Kayleigh Jones (Lady Macbeth) is a senior BFA Acting major with a Communications minor from Gastonia, North Carolina. She has loved working on this production and couldn't have asked for a better way to end her senior year! Past Elon credits include Thomasina (Arcadia), Tricia (Dog Sees God), Hilary Kelly U/S (Moment), and Helen U/S (Baby With the Bathwater). She would like to thank Professor Shively, the cast, and the crew for their hard work and dedication to this production. She would also like to thank her friends and family for always supporting and believing in her. kayleighjones.net

Oonagh Kelly is a senior Acting and Arts Administration major. Past acting credits include #11 in The Wolves and understudy roles in American La Ronde, The School for Wives, and Trojan Barbie. She is an active member of Elon’s improv troupe Instant Laughter. In the summer of 2019, she worked for Jim Carnahan Casting in NYC, where she assisted in casting cycles for numerous Broadway/Off-Broadway shows, as well as John Mulaney’s latest Netflix comedy special The Sack Bunch Lunch. In fall 2019, she spent a semester abroad in London at the Theatre Academy London. She will be graduating from Elon this May. oonaghkelly.com

Emily Kopchains is a Senior Theatrical Design and Technology major with a Scenic focus and is so honored to be the Scenic Designer for Medea. She is beyond lucky to be a member of the Elon TDT family and could not be more grateful for the faculty and especially her fellow students who have encouraged her to learn, make mistakes, and push boundaries throughout this process.

Kevin Lacey is a senior BFA Music Theatre program major, originally from Atlanta, GA. Some previous credits include Joseph and the… Dreamcoat (Judah) and the ensembles of Elon’s productions of American Idiot and Once on this Island. He wants to extend a huge shout-out to his friends, family, and teachers for constantly supporting him and continuously encouraging him to grow. Romans 8:18. Kevin-lacey.com

Alex is a Senior TDT major with a concentration in lighting and stage management. This year she is the lighting designer on Heart of Shrapnel, Sense and Sensibilities, and The Cherry Orchard. Additionally, she is one of several lighting designers on the Fall Dance Concert and an assistant lighting designer on 42nd Street.

Hope Nevins is a senior BFA Acting major from Nassau, The Bahamas. Previous credits at Elon University include Hamlet and Arcadia. Hope is so grateful for the opportunity to work on this show and would like to thank all the entire cast, crew and creative team of Macbeth, with a special thanks to Kim Shively. She would also like to thank her family and friends for their continued support. It has been both an honor and a privilege to be able to create art, tell stories and keep theatre alive during a global pandemic. Hope will be graduating in May and moving to Los Angeles to start her career in Acting. hopenevins.com

Haley Richey is a senior Theatrical Design and Technology Major with a concentration in Props and Makeup. She wants to thank the cast, production team, her family, and friends for their support of this production. Her previous credits include 42nd Street as the Props Manger, Pheromone as the Props Manager, and Trojan Barbie as the Makeup Designer.

Jack is a senior BFA Acting and BA Arts Administration double major from San Diego, California. Past Elon credits include: Sense and Sensibility (Mrs. Dashwood/Anne Steele), Beast Mode Champion (Mr. Bergman/Others), and Spelling Bee (William Barfée). Jack is a Lumen Scholar exploring Queer Theory and Arts Administrative Practices. IG: @jack.morr | @queering.the.stage

Payton Robinson is a Senior BFA Acting and Nutrition Track Double Major, Minoring in Psychology from Fairhope, Alabama. Her Elon credits include, Woman C in Heart of Shrapnel, Malcolm u/s in Macbeth, #2 u/s in The Wolves, and Second Correspondent u/s in Medea. She is thrilled for you to see the show and thanks you for your support.

Bret Sherman is a junior BFA Acting major from Springfield, New Jersey. His recent credits at Elon University include Giggles in Clown Bar and Richard Noakes (U/S) in Arcadia. Bret is very grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this incredible team and has loved the opportunity to work with Professor Shively. He would like to thank his family, friends, and the entire production team of Macbeth for making this all possible.

Tommy Truitt is a Senior BFA Acting major from Mt. Airy Maryland. He is thrilled to be playing the role of Wadsworth. His past performances include Elon: Concord Floral (#2 (Bobolink)) Sense and Sensibility (Sir John, Gossip, Doctor) Macbeth (SOLDIER, BANQUO U/S, WITCH ONE U/S) Hamlet (Player 3 U/S, Osric U/S), Clown Bar (Twinkles U/S), Maryland Ensemble Theater: Be More Chill (Featured Dancer). He would like to thank his family, friends, and mentors for their support. Instagram: @tommy.truitt

Jake Whitman is a Junior Acting major and Creative Writing major from Rhode Island. He would like to thank the entire production team and fellow cast members for this incredible experience, and his family and friends for their love and support.

Allyson Vogel is a senior majoring in Biology and Theatrical Design and Technology with a focus in stage management. She is excited to assistant technical direction and lead the crew for Clue! Her recent shows include Head Over Heels (assistant lighting designer) and 42nd Street (stage manager). She is so proud of all the hard work put into this show, and she looks forward to the rest of her senior year.

Alec is a Junior Acting and Computer Science double major at Elon University. He is excited to be a part of the Clue cast. His previous works at Elon include Heart of Shrapnel (X, Y, Voice of Killer), Macbeth (Macbeth u/s), and Pheromone (Kyle u/s). He would like to thank his family and friends for their constant support, and the professors at Elon for helping him become the actor he is today.