Backstage
Shakespeare's R&J
- Cast & Crew -
- Cast & Crew -
Student One - Curtis Jackson
Student Two - Andrew Lund
Student Three - Nathan Ducker
Nathan Ducker is positively giddy to be making his Chicago debut, having just moved to the city in October. He recieved his BFA from Oklahoma City University; favorite credits include Iago (Othello), Eugene (Biloxi Blues), and Grumio (Taming of the Shrew). He also directed Oleanna and Three Days of Rain for OCU. All my love to my supportive parents and my BFAXI family for inspiring me.
Student Four - Matt Dyson
Matt Dyson is thrilled to be making his third appearance with Idle Muse, performing previously as Vinnie in St. Scarlet and Jerry in Jerry and Tom. A graduate of The University of Oklahoma, he has performed in Chicago with Lyric Opera, American Theater Company, One Theatre Company, Pub Theater Company, Theatre-Hikes, Verismo Opera Club, Village Players, Windy City Players, North Lakeside Players, Red Square, and the Easy Street Players. Favorites include Max in Lend Me a Tenor, Demetrius in Midsummer, Anthony in The House of Yes, Danny in West (and North) Side Story, Tom in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Matt in The Marriage of Bette and Boo, Andy in Love Letters, and Harry Pepper in Barefoot in the Park. He has performed regionally as Bottom in Midsummer, Hal in Proof, Bennie in Touch, and Kip in Wonder of the World. He has hazel green eyes and enjoys misty boat rides on the Chicago River. www.mattdyson.com.
Director - Tristan Brandon*
Tristan Brandon is pleased as punch to be doing his first directing for Idle Muse - he’s been with the company since its inaugural production, The Ceremony of Innocence, and has acted, produced, stage-managed, assistant-directed, and adapted as a part of each of Idle Muse’s 10 shows to date. Favorites include Shotgun Shakespeare; What the Weird Sisters Saw, which he adapted with Evan, Bloody Poetry, in which he got to know the great and misunderstood Lord Byron, and last summer’s The Lion in Winter. He studied at Lake Forest College, and has worked with many of Chicago’s magnificent Fringe companies, namely Azusa Productions, The Thirteenth Tribe, Focal Point Theatre, Polarity Ensemble, and others. Many many thanks to Evan, without whom none of this would be possible, to Kathy, of whom the same is true, to his brilliant cast, talented crew and designers (not to mention the Babes) and to the family, who are, as usual, essential in every way.
Assitant Director - Evan Jackson*Evan Jackson is the Artistic Director and co-founder of Idle Muse Theatre Company, where he most recently directed The Lion in Winter and Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure (both Jeff Recommended). Previous Idle Muse directing credits include Shotgun Shakespeare: What the Weird Sisters Saw (co-adapted with Tristan Brandon), Bloody Poetry, Proof, and the company’s inaugural production, Ceremony of Innocence. Prior professional credits include The Last Judgment and The Potato Chip Eaters as part of the Martin de Maat New Works Festival at Boxer Rebellion Theatre, and two summers assistant directing at Shakespeare on the Green in Lake Forest. Evan is a graduate of The Theatre School, DePaul University, where he received his MFA in Directing.
Elizabeth MacDougald is a proud member of the Idle Muse family. She unashamedly admits to pulling most of What The Weird Sisters Saw from her own closet, has shoved people (including herself) into Victorian corsets and straight jackets for Sherlock Holmes: The Last Adventure and Dracula, and had to have the medieval gowns from The Lion In Winter forcibly removed from her hands as she desperately wanted to give them a good home. She is also a proud member of Babes With Blades Theatre Company, and can be seen in the upcoming production of Trash, the winner of the Joining Sword And Pen Play Writing Competition. As always, much love to her family, her boy, Steve, and her familiar, Willow.
Stage Manager - Rebecca Cagney
Rebecca Cagney is excited to be stage managing for Idle Muse for the first time. Other Chicago shows include Interrogation Primer and Through the Middle Ground at The Side Project Shadowlands and Sanders Family Christmas at Provision Theatre and Low Pay Don’t Pay at Piccolo Theatre. Rebecca is a graduate from the University of Wyoming where she worked on Hamlet, Into The Woods, Chorus Line and Picasso at the Lapin Agile. She hopes you enjoy the show.
* Denotes Idle Muse Ensemble Member