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Shakespeare Festival: Macbeth

Shakespeare Festival: Macbeth

Macbeth

By William Shakespeare
Directed by Matt Hawkins

Welcome People

The Story of This Production

Special Thanks About Shakespeare at Notre Dame Upcoming Events

Welcome

From the President

Dear Friends,

On behalf of the University of Notre Dame, I welcome you to the 2026 season of the Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival, an important tradition for our campus and local communities.

The performing arts provide an important avenue for fostering learning and building lasting connections. Year after year, the Festival provides an excellent variety of educational and entertainment opportunities that invite us to engage with the power and excitement of one of the world’s most influential and provocative playwrights and poets. I hope you will take advantage of as many of the Festival offerings as you can.

I also want to extend my congratulations and thanks to all those involved in making this programming possible. We are proud of your efforts and inspired by your talents, energy, and vision.

In Notre Dame,
Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C.
President
University of Notre Dame

A note from director Matt Hawkins

What do you believe?

If you believe the old legends, we really shouldn’t be performing this show! Tradition suggests it’s so cursed that merely whispering its title within these walls might invite total catastrophe. Leaving the myths behind, we invite you to look inward and wonder: “What do you believe?” Let’s start with a big one: where does evil come from? Is evil born inside our minds, or is it part of the natural world? What about magic? What about theatre magic? What about curses? What do you believe when it comes to religion, science, news, facts? Or alternative facts?! Seriously though – how much of the “truth” you’re fed do you buy into? And do you always consider your source?!

We wanted to capture the wild, electric energy of an Elizabethan audience at the Globe Theatre, during the early 1600’s. This isn’t a “sit back and watch quietly” kind of show. In fact, we’re going to need your help to tell this story. When our cast asks you to chime in, please – shout along, get involved, and embrace the madness!

We’ve approached this classic with a sense of playfulness. We start off in a world that’s absurd, clownish, and wildly fun. But, like all good tragedies, things take a dark turn. Keep an eye out for when our whimsical world of pretend shifts into a raw, gut-wrenching descent toward the abyss. We’d love to know – did you feel the chill? Tell us what you think!

Also, swing back by the Philbin Theatre during halftime, or once we’ve taken our final bow, to witness our imaginative art installation. It’s an immersive exploration inspired by the cryptic prophecies of “The Scottish Play” (a.k.a. “The Play That Shall Not Be Named,” a.k.a. “Mac#!$h”).

So, buckle up. Whether you’re a believer in curses or a total skeptic, we’re in this together. Thank you for being a part of our show!

Run Time

The total run time is around 2 hours. There will be one 15-minute intermission about an hour into the performance (exact timing depends on how long it takes the Thane of Cawdor to die)

Today's Show Includes:

Fog, Haze, Live Flame, Violence... and a little blood :)

Land Acknowledgement

The Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival acknowledges our presence in the traditional homelands of Native peoples including the Haudenosauneega, Miami, Peoria, all of the Bodéwadkmik / Potawatomi peoples, and particularly the Pokégnek Bodéwadmik / Pokagon Potawatomi, who utilized this land for education, art, storytelling, and life for thousands of years and continue to do so.

Cast, Designers, and Staff

Creative Team

Matt Hawkins: Director / Fight Director

Matt Hawkins is a writer, director, actor, fight choreographer, and theatre producer. Recent works include: directing The Rocky Horror Show (Penobscot Theatre), Once (Notre Dame), and original fight choreography for BUG (Broadway). Upcoming works include developing/directing the next student musical to come out of Notre Dame’s New Works Lab: Moving Thomas Sullivan, directing/performing in What The Constitution Means To Me (The Ghostlight Theatre), performing in remount productions of Every Brilliant Thing (South Haven Presenting Series and Robinson Community Learning Center), and producing/performing in 500 Clown Frankenstein (in partnership with the University of Iowa and Notre Dame). Matt holds a BFA in acting from Southern Methodist University and an MFA in directing from the University of Iowa. He is currently a professor at the University of Notre Dame, where he serves as director of theatre for the Department of Film, Television, and Theatre.

Kathy Preher Reynolds: Stage Manager*

Kathy Preher Reynolds is an AEA Stage Manager with over 30 years of theatre experience across the country. She has been a regular collaborator with Shakespeare at Notre Dame since 2014, serving as Production Stage Manager for Midsummer Night's Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, The Winter's Tale, and Henry IV (Parts 1 & 2). At Actors Theatre of Louisville, where she worked for 25 seasons, Kathy stage managed numerous productions, including multiple Humana Festival of New American Plays premieres. Her expertise spans production management, mentorship, and artistic collaboration with directors and creative teams. Beyond theatre, Kathy is an accomplished visual artist and graphic designer.

Don Hunter: Assistant Stage Manager*

Don Hunter returns to the Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival for his tenth year. Previously, he served as the production manager for the festival. He currently serves as the Production Manager for the music center at Goshen College and spent 17 years production managing, teaching, and designing for various schools, companies, and projects. Don has his B.A. in theatre arts from Bethel College and his M.F.A. in stage management from Wayne State University. Other stage managing credits include 11 years with Southold Dance Theatre Ballet. 2 shows with Caution High Risk Wrestling. Holly Dolly at The 574 Theatre. Festival of Carols at Goshen College. Les Miserables at the South Bend Civic Theatre. Angela Ingersoll Cabaret, The Coronation of Poppea, Candide at The University of Notre Dame. Laramie Project: Ten Years Later Premier, Hamlet, The Fantasticks, Alice in Wonderland Premier, The Beaux’ Stratagem, Servant of Two Masters, All My Sons, Master Builder at the Hilberry Theatre.

Brad Bunn: Technical Director, Scenic Designer/Properties Designer

Brad Bunn (Technical Director, Scenic Designer/Properties Designer) has been a Technical Director, Project Manager, and carpenter at many professional theatres and commercial sceneshops in Chicago, including Chicago Shakespeare, Steppenwolf, RedBox Workshop (formally LaBrosse Ltd.), Ravenswood Studios, and Defiant Theatre. After ten years in Chicago, Brad and his family moved to Northeast ohio where he was the owner of two renovation and design companies and served as Technical Director, Scenic Designer, and Scenic Artist at Cuyahoga Community College for 17 years. He would like to thank his wife Michelle for her unwavering love and support.

Rob Fuller: Assistant Scenic Designer / Scene Shop Artisan

Rob Fuller (Assistant Scenic Designer/Scene Shop Artisan) is a rising 4th year at the University of Notre Dame, originally residing in Brookfield, WI. He is studying architecture and minoring in musical theatre! He is ecstatic to be a part of his second NDSF production, working as a shop carpenter and assistant set designer! In the future, Rob hopes to combine his passions for architecture and theatre to become a successful set designer. When Rob is not working, you may find him hanging out with family or friends, playing the piano, or sketching by the lake. He would like to express endless appreciation to God, his parents, family, and friends for their infinite love and support! He hopes you enjoy the hard work of all the INCREDIBLE cast/crew who helped bring this production to life!

Izumi Inaba: Costume Designer^

Izumi Inaba is thrilled to be working at Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival for the first time. Recent credits: Estate Sale (Barrington Center Stage), Catch As Catch Can (Steppenwolf Theatre Company), and South Pacific (Paramount Theatre). Upcoming: Front Page (Northlight Theatre), Adirondack Chair Circle (Steppenwolf). A member of United Scenic Artists Local USA 829 and represented by Gersh.

Kevin Dreyer: Lighting Designer

Kevin Dreyer is a lighting designer and a member of the United Scenic Artists with an active freelance career. He has designed for major companies across the United States and around the world with reviews and award nominations from four continents. He has been on the faculty at Notre Dame since 1989, where in addition to teaching he has designed lighting and scenery for the theatre season. In recent years he has added the responsibilities of producing and directing for the University. He published his first book Dance and Light: The Partnership Between Choreography and Lighting Design in 2020. He was the resident lighting designer for the Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival from its inception until 2018 and is happy to return in this capacity. He retired from teaching in 2025 but remains affiliated as an Emritus Professor. His whole family is in the arts and education — his wife directed the Saint Mary's College dance program for 30 years and his three daughters work as administrators, performers and educators. Kevin's work as a lighting designer has been seen in Chicago and around the world with the Joffrey Ballet and Ballet West. His design work is featured in Robert Altman’s film The Company.

Kevin O’Donnell: Composer and Sound Designer

Kevin O’Donnell is excited to be working with Shakespeare at Notre Dame. His most recent collaboration with Matt Hawkins was as Music Director for Peter and the Starcatcher at the Penobscot Theatre in Maine; previous to that Kevin worked with Matt on several projects in Chicago, as sound designer, composer, and musician. Based in Chicago for many years, he has been nominated for over 20 Jeff Awards (receiving 10), most recently working with Lookingglass Theatre on Circus Quixote, which was remounted this past Spring at the McCarter Center for the Arts in Princeton, New Jersey. Currently he lives outside Nashville, where he teaches Sound Design at Middle Tennessee State University. He is also a drummer. kevinodonnellmusic.com

Rachael Jimenez, CSA: Casting Director

Rachael Jimenez, CSA recently returned to Los Angeles after eleven years in Chicago, where she spent nine seasons casting at Goodman Theatre and worked with Theater Wit, Windy City Playhouse, and Remy Bumppo Theatre Company. She is thrilled to return to Shakespeare at Notre Dame after having cast HAMLET 50/50 in 2023. A member of the Casting Society of America, Rachael was part of the first Casting Director Trainer team for Broadway For Racial Justice’s Casting Directive. She holds a BA in Theatre Arts, Entrepreneurship, and Comparative Religious Studies from CSU Fullerton.

Lily Dorian: Visual Artist

Lily Dorian is a Louisiana-made, Midwest-based interdisciplinary artist. After earning her undergraduate degree in Studio Art from Millsaps College, Lily spent several years working in the film industry. She developed a deep appreciation for visual storytelling and collaborative making. Working across sculpture, installation, and film, she creates immersive environments that explore storytelling through objects and material. As both a working artist and educator, Lily has exhibited her work nationally and taught in university and museum settings. Lily recently received her MFA in Studio Art from the University of Notre Dame and is excited for chances to expand her practice through large-scale sculptural installation and experimental approaches to material and narrative.

Cast

Will Barrett

Will Barrett is so excited to be a part of this year’s NDSF production of Macbeth! Will is a senior at the University of Notre Dame. Before this he has acted with the Not-So-Royal Shakespeare Company on Notre Dame’s campus, but this is his first time working with NDSF!

Jasmine Bracey*

Jasmine Bracey is thrilled to be making her NDSF debut. A proud member of Actor’s Equity and SAG-AFTRA, notable theatre credits include The Guthrie, Utah Shakespeare Festival, The Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, The Alley Theatre, The Resident Ensemble Players, The Acting Company, and Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. Her most notable film project to date is the movie His Three Daughters for which she won the Robert Altman Award. Her latest directing credits include You on the Moors Now at FSU School of Theatre, Twelfth Night at the Texas Shakespeare Festival, and Intimate Apparel at North Coast Repertory Theatre. She is a Stakeholder and performer with The Backroom Shakespeare Project and currently teaches Shakespeare and Scene Study at the School of Theatre at Florida State University.

Lily Brustkern

Lily Brustkern is thrilled to be making her debut with the Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival. She is a rising junior at the University of Notre Dame studying Mathematics and Classics.

Abigail Gillan*

Abigail Gillan is so happy to be back at NDSF, having previously appeared in As You Like It (Celia) in 2024. Regional credits include The Huntington, Phoenix Theatre, Beef and Boards, and Theatre on the Square to name a few. BFA Emerson College, Boston. Owner, The Ragamuffin Bakery, South Bend. Love to my Norrie and Gussie!

Tyler Hepler

Tyler Hepler is super excited to be working at NDSF this summer. Tyler is currently working towards their MFA in acting at Purdue. Some of Tyler’s recent credits are Newsies (Finch), Our Town (George), Hair (Tribe/Dad), Cat Kid Comic Club (Flippy), and Family Album (Tyler). Tyler is so grateful for his friends, family, and mentors who have helped them along their career. A special thank you to Samy for being there through all the ups and downs of everything in life :) @heplertyler.

Milo Joyce

Milo Joyce will be a sophomore this fall at Saint Joseph High School in South Bend. He was in The Crucible and The Addams Family at Saint Joe last year and also played for the Boys JV Volleyball team. Previously he participated in the drama program at Stanley Clark School where he was seen as James in James & The Giant Peach. At Stanley Clark, he also played soccer, basketball, and competed on the Latin team.

Brennan MacDonald

Brennan MacDonald is a second-year PhD student in the Department of History at the University of Notre Dame. Originally from Bangor, Maine, he is thrilled for his first professional acting opportunity to be with the Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival. Since beginning his graduate studies, Brennan has enjoyed acting in several productions with the Not-So-Royal Shakespeare Company on campus. Prior to coming to Notre Dame, he completed an M.A. in Irish and Irish-American Studies at New York University. Outside of his academic career, Brennan served for four years on Active Duty in the United States Army as an Air Defense Artillery Officer. He continues to serve part-time as a Logistics Officer in the United States Army reserve. Brennan would like to thank his fiancée Dana for her never-ending support and all his family and friends who have always encouraged him in his love of acting and theatre.

Colleen McLinden

Colleen McLinden is thrilled to return to South Bend and the Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival stage, having first appeared here in the world premier of Hamlet 50/50 (Maria, Player Two) under director Vanessa Morosco. Recent area productions include The Crucible (Elizabeth Proctor), Girls in the Boat (Girl 5), and The Play That Goes Wrong (Annie), all at the South Bend Civic Theater. As a student at Notre Dame, she was in the Folk Choir’s production of The Passion (Peter), which toured nationally. She also just returned from the Prague Shakespeare Company’s Summer Intensive with an NDSF group, where she was in Cymbeline (Queen, Chorus). When not on stage, Colleen is an actor-teacher for Great Lakes Theater in Cleveland, Ohio, bringing classical theater into classrooms across Northeast Ohio.

Jeff Mills*

Jeff Mills is an award winning actor, director, movement artist, and musician. He has performed Shakespeare all over the world, including with Teatro Pataló in Rimini Italy, Prague Shakespeare Company, Bitola National Theatre in Macedonia, the National Theatre of China in Beijing, and Teatr Lalek in Bialystok, Poland. Stateside he’s worked with Denver Center Theatre Company, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, PCPA Theatrefest, Seattle Shakespeare, Wooden O Seattle, Lit Moon, Santa Barbara Shakespeare, and Door Shakespeare in Door County Wisconsin where he was a co-founder. His solo show Propsero’s Black Box, which explores the collision of Shakespeare and AI has performed at the Verona Fringe Shakespeare Festival in Italy, the Highdrama Center in Greece, the Denver Fringe Festival, and the Ol’Factory Festival in Chicago. Favorite Shakespeare roles include MacBeth, Prospero, Hamlet, Don Armado, and Berowne. Jeff currently teaches movement at the Theatre School at Depaul University.

Grant Niezgodski*

Grant Niezgodski is a South Bend native and is thrilled to be performing with Notre Dame Shakespeare for the first time. Regional credits include productions with Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Windy City Playhouse, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Phoenix Theatre, Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre, and seven seasons with the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. Television credits include Chicago Fire (NBC). Grant holds a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University - Bloomington. He is represented by Lily’s Talent.

Julia Nurenberg

Julie Nurenberg is honored to be able to perform with Notre Dame Shakespeare this summer! Julia is from the South Bend area, where she grew up falling in love with theater and acting. Julia has performed in many different productions, some of her favorite shows include Teddy and Alice (Alice Roosevelt): Dickinson State University, District Merchants (Jessica): The Acting Ensemble, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Punk Girl): Slippery Rock University, and West Side Story (Anybodys): Morris Performing Arts Center. Julia is dedicated to continuing growing as an artist, and she is happy she found a home at Slippery Rock University where she will be an Acting BFA junior. She is grateful for all the love and support, she could not have come as far as she has without it! Insta: @julia_nurenberg.

Yona Olivares

Yona Olivares is so excited to be making their Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival debut! Born in Hollywood and raised in North Carolina, Yona is happy to split the difference–making Chicago their artistic home! Chicago Theater: Much Ado About Nothing at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Sanctuary City at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Gender PLay, Or What You Will at About Face Theatre, Anna in the Tropics at Remy Bumppo, Same Sects at Haven Chicago, and When Harry Met Rehab at Greenhouse Theater. Regional Theater: Anna in the Tropics and The Winter’s Tale at American Player’s Theatre, How To Defend Yourself, We’ve Come to Believe, A Christmas Carol, and Dracula at Actors Theatre of Louisville. They received their degree from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Represented by Gray Talent. ¡Solamente junots!

Bo Petersen

Bo Petersen has worked as a professional actor in South Africa for more than 40 years, working on stage, TV, and film. She has also made a name for herself as a director. Bo has a deep commitment to nurturing and developing original South African theatre. She has worked with undiscovered talent and well-established actors. Her own acting trajectory has been firmly based on innovative and challenging productions. She has established a successful supplementary career as a dialogue and drama coach for the feature film and the advertising industry, working with, among others, Sidney Poitier, Michael Caine, Ryan Reynolds, and William Hurt. She has toured her play Pieces of Me to South Africa, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, and the USA, where she played to full houses and critical acclaim. Bo’s commitment to the arts is marked by her significant contributions and ongoing dedication to elevating South African theatre globally. Bo currently resides in the USA, where she continues to write, direct, and perform.

Olivia Seymour

Olivia Seymour is a New York-based actor, playwright, and lyrcisit and is thrilled to be back with the Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival after her time in King Lear last summer. She is currently working towards her MFA in NYU’s Graduate Musical Theatre Writing program, and is a recent alum of the University of Notre Dame, where she wrote, workshopped, and produced her first original musica, Heart on Fire. Other favorite past credits include Trebonius/Strato in Julius Caesar (Interlochen Shakespeare Festival), #25 in The Wolves (Notre Dame), Rosalin in Dawn’s Early Light (Notre Dame), and Nadia in Bare: A Pop Opera (Notre Dame). Thank you to family and friends for lighting her fire.

Julielynne Shiner

Julielynne Shiner is a spirited and versatile actor who brings bold, memorable characters to life with exuberance and joy–whether stirring up laughs or grounding a scene with her heart. She recently appeared as Giovani/Morulla in The Sisters and the Bandit King with AMP Theatre Company. Just having returned from the Prague Shakespeare Festival, she is thrilled to join the cast of Macbeth in the 2026 Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival. Her on-stage work spans a wide range of comedic and character-driven roles. On screen, Julielynne has appeared as a principal performer (spy and handler roles) in industrial espionage training productions and independent projects, as well as a day player on Days of Our Lives. Known for balancing grounded, truthful performances with playful energy, she infuses every role with imagination, passion, and precision. Trained through the University of Notre Dame and with instructors in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and San Diego, Julielynne is also an interpspiritual minister, proud “rooster impersonator,” creator of the I AM Movement program, and skilled in accents and dramatic reading. She brings warmth, exuberance, and a delightfully unexpected spark to every role.

Stacy Stoltz*

Stacy Stoltz is a theatre artist from Chicago. At Notre Dame she directed Every Brilliant Thing and co-directed and acted in The Wolves. She starred in What the Constitution Means to Me, which began at The DeBartolo Performing Arts Center in 2023 and made stops in the South Bend community, The South Haven Theatre Series, Dunes Arts, The Ensemble Theatre in Santa Barbara and will have a run at The Ghostlight Theatre in Benton Harbor in September 2026. She also co-directed My Heart Says Go and directed Silent Sky at The South Bend Civic Theatre. Stacy has been seen acting on Chicago stages in Hatfield and McCoy (The House Theatre), Marjorie Prime (Writers Theatre), Stupid ****ing Bird (Victory Gardens), and Our Town (The Hypocrites). She performed Off-Broadway (59E59 Theatre) and was nominated for Theatre Awards for her acting work in Assisted Living (Profiles Theatre) and A Streetcar Named Desire (Writers Theatre). Her television credits include The Chicago Code, Chicago Fire, and Chicago PD.

Bret Tuomi*

Bret Tuomi returns to Notre Dame after an 18 year hiatus. It was back in 2008, in NDSF’s previous production of Macbeth, in which he played Macduff. Since then, he has appeared on stage at the Goodman, Chicago Shakespeare, and many others. He also appeared on Broadway and the first national tour of Rock of Ages. In television, you may have seen him in NBC Chicago PD, Chicago Fire; Fox Empire, or Netflix Monster.

Production

Sarah Bailey: Assistant Stage Manager

Sarah Bailey (Assistant Stage Manager), better known as just “Bailey”, is grateful to be a part of NDSF! They are a stage manager based in the Chicagoland area, originally from Joliet, Illinois. They received a KCACTF certificate of merit for their work on Twelfth Night at Goshen College (GC) in 2024, and in the same year, they were a regional finalist for the KCACTF stage management fellowship for their work on Into the Woods at GC. Additional SM credits include The Wizard of Oz at the Goshen Theater, as well as Everybody, and Brooklyn Bridge at GC. During their time at Goshen College, they majored in theater, with minors in Business and American Sign Language.

Charlie Baker: Intimacy Workshop Leader

Charlie Baker (Intimacy Workshop Leader) is a Chicago-based intimacy and movement professional, as well as a gender educator and clown. They are incredibly thrilled to be working with Notre Dame Shakespeare again, and would like to use this bio to thank you for coming to support the arts. Please donate to your local PBS station, as well as organizations to support queer youth, like The Trevor Project. Art keeps us human, so let’s keep humans in art.

Natalie Bowman: Costume Shop Artisan

Natalie Bowman (Costume Shop Artisan) began working with the Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival in 2007 and has returned every season since. Natalie received her BA in costume design and technology from IUSB and went on to earn her MFA in Costume Design at Florida State University in 2001. Before Natalie moved to southern Indiana where she is the Theatre Department Coordinator and heads the Costume program for Indiana University Southeast’s Theatre Department, she spent several years traveling around the United States working at various regional theatres and educational institutions as a costume technician and costume designer. Some of these include Swine Palace Productions based at Louisiana State University, Northern Illinois University, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Milwaukee Shaekspeare Company, and Virginia Stage Company.

Erin Bryant: Costume Shop Artisan

Erin Bryant (Costume Shop Artisan) is the Costume Shop Supervisor/Designer for Bethel University Theatre. Erin ahs worked as a costumer, designer, or overhire wardrobe for such companies as Southhold Dance Theatre, South Bend Civic Theatre, and the IATSE Local #187. Erin has also served as a costume artist for the Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival since 2014.

Brad Bunn: Technical Director, Scenic Designer/Properties Designer

Sarah E. Bussard: Assistant Costume Shop Manager / Hair / Special Effects

Sarah E. Bussard (Assistant Costume Shop Manager/Hair/Special Effects) is also trained as a makeup designer and wigmaker. Her design and production work spans a variety of mediums and venues, including collaborations with Music Theatre Wichita, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, Olney Theatre Centre, Sarasota Opera, Virginia Opera, Cincinnati Opera, and Chautauqua Opera. Film and video work includes The American Experience with Rick Burns, Seven Below, Silk Trees (Evermore Pictures), as well as Evaluating Kaitly (Runaway Pen Productions). Favorite selected designs include The Drowsy Chaperone (Music Theatre Wichita), Raisin in the Sun (Indiana Repertory Theatre), John Proctor is the Villain (Notre Dame Department of Theatre), Love’s Labor’s Lost (Wichita State University), Matrilineage (Wichita Contemporary Dance Theatre), and Metamorphoses (Taylor University). She received her M.F.A. in Makeup and Wig Design at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) where she studied wig making and design, and her B.A. in Liberal Studies (concentrations in Theatre, Literature, and Writing) from Bethel College in Mishawaka, Indiana. Her research interests include traditional Asian dress, historical wig making, and unique stories in dress history. As the Costume Designer for the College of Arts & Letters, Sarah is thrilled to return home to Indiana to make theatre with colleagues old and new, and work with the students of Notre Dame!

Emily Chidalek: Costume Shop Artisan

Emily Chidalek (Costume Shop Artisan) holds a master’s degree in Clinical Counseling and a bachelor's degree in Theatre Performance, both from IU South Bend. With a passion for using theater as a therapeutic tool, she aims to become a drama therapist. Emily operates "Love, Emily," a sustainable art business, alongside her roles as Resident Costume Designer and Stage Manager at Culver Academies. She has collaborated with institutions like South Bend Lyric Opera, IUSB Theatre Department, Notre Dame FTT and Shakespeare, and Art 4. Notable credits include Ghost Quartet (South Bend’s Costume Design of the Decade, BroadwayWorld 2020), Puffs, Don Giovanni, and She Kills Monsters. Emily's diverse experience spans regional and international stages as a costumer, scenic artist, stage manager, and performer. She is also part of a theatrical team that broke a world record. Emily extends gratitude to those who have patience with her while she is busy, and hold space for her when she needs it.

McKayla Edmisten: Costume Shop Artisan / Run Crew

McKayla Edmisten (Costume Shop Artisan/Run Crew) is excited to be joining Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival this summer in the costume shop. She has just graduated from Indiana University Southeast with her Bachelor’s in Communications in Theatre, where she stage managed productions of Clue: The Musical (IUS), Every Christmas Story Ever…. (IUS), Glass Menagerie (IUS), and Spitfire Grill (IUS). Regionally, she has also been an assistant stage manager for Lees McRae Summer Theatre in Banner Elk, NC and Bunbury Theatre Company in Louisville, KY. She'd like to thank her friends and family for always being supportive of all her endeavors, and her dog, PJ, for keeping her sane.

Erin Farmer: Assistant Stage Manager

Erin Farmer (Assistant Stage Manager) recently graduated in May from Notre Dame with a degree in Film, Television, and Theatre. She is grateful to have had the opportunity through NDSF to participate last month in Prague Shakespeare Company’s Summer Intensive, where she just stage managed Timon of Athens. Other recent credits include Beatriz’s Journey (El Viaje de Beatriz) (Director), John Proctor is the Villain and George Washington’s Mexican Birthday (Assistant Director), and Philbin & Phriendz and RED CUP (Stage Manager) all with the FTT department. In addition to her work with FTT, Erin also worked as a student stagehand at DPAC and is thrilled to have the opportunity to work alongside the DPAC staff again this summer! Erin is a South Bend native who has also worked with South Bend Civic Theatre (ASM: Something Rotten! and My Heart Says Go) and United Youth Theatre, where she discovered her passion for theatre and has since been involved with more than 10 productions.

Rob Fuller: Assistant Scenic Designer / Scene Shop Artisan

Lynn Holbrook: Costume Shop Manager

Lynn Holbrook (Costume Shop Manager) returns to NDSF for her fourteenth season. Recent costume design credits include Dead Man’s Cell Phone with Notre Dame’s Department of Film, Television, and Theatre, and Candide with Opera Notre Dame. Lynn previously served as wardrobe supervisor and costume shop manager for BalletMet Columbus as well as costume shop manager for the University of Michigan. She designed costumes for seven new works at BalletMet Columbus, including Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, and toured with many performances of Beauty and the Beast and The Nutcracker. Lynn earned her BS in Textiles and Clothing from Ohio State University and her MFA in Costume Design from Wayne State University, where her designs were featured in three productions that traveled to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She is originally from Ohio, and is happy to be at Notre Dame.

Deborah Mayers: Wardrobe Head Dresser

Deborah Mayers is honored to add this year’s wonderful adaptation of The Scottish Play to her long list of Notre Dame Shakespeare productions. Her extensive history of stagecraft also includes South Bend Community School Corporation, The Casaday Costume Collection, South Bend Civic Theatre, Michiana Opera Guild, and IATSE Local #187, as well as other student and professional productions at Notre Dame, Indiana University South Bend, and Saint Mary’s College.

Abigail Moody: Costume Shop Artisan / Run Crew

Abigail Moody (Costume Shop Artisan/Run Crew) has one year left at IU South Bend pursuing her major in Musical Theatre Performance with minors in Costume Production and East Asian Studies. This is her third summer working with the Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival and she's so glad to be back. Previous production roles include Assistant Costumer for The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at South Bend Civic Theatre and Wardrobe Head for Ride the Cyclone at IU South Bend. In her copious free time, she bakes, watches anime, and plays table top games. She would like to thank her loving family, friends, and partner for all their support.

Ella Nicole: Costume Shop Artisan / Run Crew

Ella Nicole (Costume Shop Artisan/Run Crew) is a recent graduate of IU South Bend with a Theatre BA and minor in Costume Production. Ella has a passion for costume technology as well as a background in stage management. Previous NSDF productions include King Lear, Costume Design Assistant/Wardrobe (2025) and As You Like It, Assistant Stage Manager (2024). Selected additional credits: Ride the Cyclone, Costume Shop Manager/Draper/Stitcher (IUSB 2026); Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Stage Manager/Stitcher (IUSB 2025); You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, Wardrobe Head/Draper/Stitcher (IUSB 2025); Puffs, Stage Manager/Stitcher (IUSB 2024). Ella would like to thank the faculty of IUSB for continuously challenging her and friends for their continued trust and support.

James Nixon: Assistant to the Lighting Designer / Assistant Master Electrician / Light Board Operator

James Nixon (Assistant to the Lighting Designer/Assistant Master Electricion/Light Board Operator) is currently going to school at Western Michigan University majoring in Theatre: Design and Technical Production with a focus on lighting design while also getting a minor in religion. He is very excited to work at Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival. James will be on the lighting team. His favorite part about lighting is that it is one thing that can stir emotions without people even realizing. He also finds fulfillment in helping the light designer achieve their vision for shows.

Em Rader: Costume Shop Artisan

Em Rader (Costume Shop Artisan) started working in costuming halfway through college. Since then, they have worked in costume shops at Bethel University, Saint Mary’s College, and Casaday Costume Company. They have done design and construction work on multiple productions, the most recent being The Addams Family at John Young Middle School. They have been with NDSF since 2023, and are looking forward to being back for another summer.

Jenna Sarrazin-White: Assistant Technical Director / Props Artisan/ Run Crew

Jenna Sarrazin-White (Assistant Techincal Director/Props Artisan/Run Crew) is from Angola, IN and graduated from Bethel University in May 2024 with her Theatre Arts Degree. She was here last few summers for Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival as an Assistant Technical Director, Assistant Scenic Artist, Carpenter, Run Crew and Fly Rail Operator for Hamlet 50/50, As You Like It and King Lear. She has also Stage Managed Notre Dame’s Operas, Dido and Aeneas and Candide. She is excited to be back for another summer and thrilled to help bring this show to life!

Raquel Sequeira: Assistant Director

Raquel Sequeira (Assistant Director) is a JD/PhD student in the History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Notre Dame. She has assistant directed NDSF’s King Lear (2025), worked as a dramaturg for the Folger Shakespeare Theater and Fellowship for Performing Arts, directed and dramaturged undergraduate Shakespeare productions at Yale University, and played the role of Marcus in the Notre Dame Not-So-Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Titus Andronicus (2025). This summer, she attended the Prague Shakespeare Company’s Summer Intensive with NDSF, where she performed as a witch in Macbeth. She has also taught and directed Shakespeare for elementary and middle school students.

Alison Smythe: Assistant Stage Manager

Alison Smythe (Assistant Stage Manager) is a current student of the IU South Bend Theater and Dance department. Her previous experience includes: Stage Manager for Ride the Cyclone, Stage Manager for Charlotte's Web, Assistant Stage Manager for You're a Good Man Charlie Brown and Assistant Stage Manager for Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, all at IU South Bend. Alison would like to thank her professors, friends, and family for supporting her.

Frankie Surdyke: Scenic & Props Artisan

Frankie Surdyke (Scenic & Props Artisan) is a current student at the University of Notre Dame with majors in Art History and Medieval Studies and is thrilled to make their debut with the Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival. Their recent credits include As You Like It (Director), Titus Andronicus (Assistant Director), King Lear (Assistant Stage Manager/Ensemble), and Julius Caesar (Titinius/Popilius) with Notre Dame’s student-run Shakespeare performance group, the Not-So-Royal Shakespeare Company (NSR). Outside of Shakespeare, Frankie’s passions include painting, late-night radio broadcasting. After NDSF, Frankie will be spending a semester abroad in St. Andrews, Scotland before returning to sunny South Bend and their work with NSR.

Claire Watson: Assistant to the Sound Designer

Claire Watson (Assistant to the Sound Designer) is a senior at Saint Mary’s College pursuing a major in Communications with minors in Dance and her second minor in Journalism, Ethics, and Democracy through the University of Notre Dame. Throughout her sophomore and junior years, she concentrated on the technical aspects of theatrical production, specializing in sound design and audio engineering as a Sound Designer, Board Operator, and Mic Technician for Notre Dame Film, Television, and Theatre. Her production credits include Heart on Fire (2025), John Proctor Is the Villain (2025), Beatriz’s Journey (2026), and Once (2026). In addition to her technical work, Claire made her acting debut in the fall 2025 production of An Enemy of the People, portraying the role of “The Drunk” and contributing comedic relief to the production. She also enjoys practicing vocal performance as a mezzo-soprano. Outside of theater, Claire studies ballroom dance locally, with Salsa and Waltz among her favorite styles.

Kathleen Werner: Stitcher

Kathleen Werner (Stitcher) is thrilled to be working with the Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival for yet another season! She is an educator by vocation, but sewing has been her avocation from her very first dressmaking class at the age of ten. In addition to sewing for herself, family and friends, she has had experience working in the retail fabric industry. Kathleen is now an Assistant Teaching Professor of French, Emerita in the Romance Languages and Literatures Department here at the University of Notre Dame, where she taught for 30 years.

Staff

Stage Management
Kathy Preher Reynolds: Stage Manager*
Sarah Bailey: Assistant Stage Manager
Erin Farmer: Assistant Stage Manager
Don Hunter: Assistant Stage Manager*
Alison Smythe: Assistant Stage Manager
Charlie Baker: Intimacy Workshop Leader
Zac Hunter: Production Manager
Raquel Sequeira: Assistant Director

Costumes

Lynn Holbrook: Costume Shop Manager
Natalie Bowman: Costume Shop Artisan
Erin Bryant: Costume Shop Artisan
Sarah Bussard: Assistant Costume Shop Manager / Hair / Special Effects
Emily Chidalek: Costume Shop Artisan
McKayla Edmisten: Costume Shop Artisan / Run Crew
Deborah Mayers: Wardrobe Head Dresser
Abigail Moody: Costume Shop Artisan / Run Crew
Ella Nicole: Costume Shop Artisan / Run Crew
Em Rader: Costume Shop Artisan
Kathleen Werner: Stitcher

Scenery/Properties
Brad Bunn: Technical Director
Rob Fuller: Assistant Scenic Designer / Scenic Shop Artisan
Jenna Sarrazin White: Assistant Technical Director / Props Artisan/ Run Crew
Frankie Surdyke: Scenic & Props Artisan / Run Crew


Jacob Claassen: Co-Head Electrician
James Nixon: Assistant Master Electrician / Light Board Operator
Claire Watson: Sound Artisan / Sound Board Operator

^ This individual is a member of the United States Scenic Artists, Local 829, a union of designers and artists in the entertainment industry.

* This artist appears through the courtesy of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

The Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival is part of Shakespeare at Notre Dame, a program that recognizes the centrality of the study of Shakespeare in humanistic pedagogy at the University of Notre Dame. Shakespeare at Notre Dame encompasses a number of different initiatives including the Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival, Actors From The London Stage, the Shakespeare in Prisons Network, and many others.

A note from Costume Designer Izumi Inaba

This production of Macbeth is rooted in the world of medieval Scotland, with the royal court and noble houses represented through traditional Scottish kilts. To clarify alliances and shifting power throughout the play, each house is assigned a distinct color palette, allowing the audience to immediately recognize political loyalties and family identities as the story unfolds.

The design emphasizes Macbeth’s seduction by the witches’ prophecy and Lady Macbeth’s even greater obsession with the destiny it promises. While Macbeth is drawn toward the possibility of power, Lady Macbeth becomes the driving force behind its pursuit, and the costumes reflect this growing psychological and emotional transformation.

Rather than pursuing strict historical accuracy, the costumes reinterpret Scottish dress through a contemporary lens. Traditional kilts are paired with modern silhouettes – including flared trousers, skirts, and culottes – to blur conventional gender boundaries and underscore the timeless nature of ambition, identity, and power. This fusion of historical and contemporary elements creates a visual language that honors Scottish heritage while inviting modern audiences to see the characters beyond rigid gender expectations.

THE STORY OF MACBETH

War hero Macbeth gets a spooky career forecast from a trio of witches: “Thane today, King tomorrow!” Banquo (Macbeth’s BFF) hears that he won’t be king BUT his kids are destined to start their own royal dynasty, leaving Macbeth feeling less than thrilled about his future job security.
Lady Macbeth, the ultimate “girlboss,” summons dark spirits to strip away her mercy and remorse, then convinces her husband that a little light regicide is just the shortcut he needs to the throne.
Duncan gets the point (literally), when Macbeth kills him and grabs the crown, while Prince Malcolm bolts for the border.
Paranoia kicks in, so Macbeth orders a hit on his BFF Banquo, but the son Fleance slips away and keeps the witches’ prophecy alive.
Dinner is ruined when Banquo’s bloody ghost decides to crash the party, sending Macbeth into a public meltdown.
Back to the witches for round two! Macbeth learns he should watch out for MacDuff. He also learns that he’s invincible… unless the trees in Birnam Wood start walking or he fights someone who is “not born of woman.”
Desperate and ruthless, Macbeth wipes out MacDuff’s family, officially winning the “Tyrant of the Year” award.
Lady Macbeth’s guilt finally catches up to her in a sleepwalking tragedy, while an army of “walking” trees approaches.
Macduff reveals his C-section loophole (so he technically was not “born of woman”), the tyrant Macbeth falls, and Scotland finally gets a king, Malcolm, who didn’t murder his way to the top!

Special Thanks

Endowments for Excellence

Shakespeare at Notre Dame is grateful to these partners for creating Endowments for Excellence that support our work now and long into the future:

The Abdo Director of the Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival
The Thomas and Elizabeth Naquin Borger Endowment for Excellence
The Brian and Jeannelle Brady Endowment for Excellence
The Cullen Endowment for Excellence
The Paul Eulau Endowment for Excellence for Actors From The London Stage
The Gary Gutchess Endowment for Excellence in Shakespearean Theatre
The Mr. & Mrs. William P. Johnson Endowment for Excellence for the Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival
The Deborah J. Loughrey Endowment for Excellence in Shakespeare Studies
The McMeel Family Chair in Shakespeare Studies
The McMeel Family Endowment for Excellence for Actors From The London Stage
Radiology, Inc. Endowment for Excellence for the Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival
The Mary Irene Ryan Endowment for Excellence in Community Programming
The Mary Irene Ryan Endowment for Excellence for Shakespeare at Notre Dame
The Mary Irene Ryan Executive Director of Shakespeare at Notre Dame
The Mary Irene Ryan Producing Artistic Director of the Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival
The D & J Smith Endowment for Shakespeare and Performance

CAMPUS PARTNERS

DeBartolo Performing Arts Center
Ted Barron, Executive Director
Tom Barkes, Daniel Burgun, Falon Cole, Thomas Cumbow, Don Demeter, Terri Douglas, Rachel Grzenia, Leigh Hayden, Joshua Ingle, Kevin Krizmanich, Megan Mancini, Sean Martin, Brian Nulle, Sarah Prince, Alex Scheidler, Christopher Schenkel, Kirk Richard Smith, Staci Stickovich, Housekeeping Staff, Ticket Office Staff, Usher Staff, and Volunteers

Notre Dame College of Arts and Letters
Sarah A. Mustillo, I.A. O’Shaughnessy Dean
Tarzan D. Ball, Todd Boruff, Jim Brockmole, Karin Dale, Elicia Dennis, Heidi Henke, Michelle LaCourt, Lauri Roberts, Ellen Roof, Josh Weinhold, Randy Yoho, Matthew Zyniewicz

Notre Dame Department of Film, Television, and Theatre
Pamela Robertson Wojick, Chair
Ted Barron, Christine Becker, Terrance Brown, Tarryn Chun, Jim Collins, C. Kenneth Cole, Briona Nic Dhiarmada, William Donnamura, Kevin C. Dreyer, La Donna Forsgren, Anne Garcia-Romero, Matt Hawkins, Karen Heisler, Lynn Holbrook, Peter Holland, Anton Juan, Michael Kackman, Mary Celeste Kearney, Carys Kresny, Ted Mandell, Olivier Morel, JoAnn Norris, Susan Ohmer, Mary Pergola Parent, Matthew Payne, Siiri Scott, Gary Sieber, Karen Srmek, Jeff Spoonhower, Marcus Stephens, Stacey Stewart

Thank you to

Paula Harer (WVPE), Mimi Beck (Graduate Student Life), Bethel University Theatre Department, Chris Manie and Paul Kempf at Notre Dame Utilities, Christy Burgess, Carrie Gates and Beth Grisoli (University of Notre Dame Media Relations), Kevin Hardsock and Express Press Inc, Rick Ho, Peter Ringenberg, I.A. O’Shaughnessy Dean Kenneth Scheve, Mary Kinney, Aaron Frick, Ashley Zingo, and all in the College of Arts and Letters, University of Notre Dame Wellness Center

Shakespeare at Notre Dame Advisory Board

The Shakespeare at Notre Dame Advisory Board serves as the advisory board for the entire Shakespeare at Notre Dame program, which encompasses not only the Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival but also the McMeel Family Chair in Shakespeare Studies and Actors From The London Stage.

Officers:
Dr. Eileen Ryan, Chair, Advisory Board
Andrew T. Blum, Chair, Executive Committee

Members:
Elizabeth Naquin Borger, Jeannelle Brady, Kevin C. Dreyer, Peter Holland, Toni Johnson, Ginger Lake, Molly Murtagh Meyers, Kurt Schreyer (Honorary), Amanda Abdo Sheahan, Bill Sheahan, Laura D. Arauz Smith

Ex-Officio: Gary Graham
Emeritus: Kathy Malone Beeler, Jack Cullen, John A. Haynes, Jim Powell, Brian O’Donaghue
Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival Founder: Dr. Paul A. Rathburn

About the Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival

Shakespeare at Notre Dame, chiefly composed of the Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival (NDSF), Actors From The London Stage (AFTLS), and the Shakespeare in Prisons Network (SiPN), is a special program of the College of Arts and Letters at the University of Notre Dame that champions a 21st century approach to the production and scholarship of the works of William Shakespeare. Shakespeare at Notre Dame provides Notre Dame students and the wider Michiana region with a culture steeped in the works of Shakespeare, engages academic communities across the nation as the American base for AFTLS, and serves as a global laboratory where community, research, and practice unite to advance new pedagogical and performance models which redefine the possibility of Shakespeare’s impact on contemporary society. Woven into the core of our work is a commitment to serving as a force for good in our communities, in our work with world-class collaborators, and in the wider field of Shakespeare studies and performance.

About Shakespeare at Notre Dame

Shakespeare at Notre Dame is a program that recognizes the centrality of the study of Shakespeare in humanistic pedagogy at the University of Notre Dame. Officially established in 2007, Shakespeare at Notre Dame's mission is to fuse the University’s pursuit of compassionate social justice with the study of the works of William Shakespeare. The program’s reach extends deep into the South Bend community, with a number of community-focused events every year, and beyond, to audiences from over a dozen countries across the world.

Staff:

Cate Cappelmann: General Manager
Debra Gasper: Ryan Family Producing Director
Zac Hunter: Production Manager
Scott Jackson: Mary Irene Ryan Family Executive Artistic Director
Grace Maher: Audience Development Manager
Kadie Sue Martin: Arts Administrative Assistant

Upcoming Events

Much Ado About Nothing (AFTLS Fall 2026)

7:30 - 10:00 PM, September 9, 10, and 11, Patricia George Decio Theatre, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center

Exuberant, joyful, and above all, ravishingly entertaining, Much Ado About Nothing is one of Shakespeare's most celebrated and enduringly popular comedies. This delightful romp deftly explores notions of identity, marriage, and communication through the sparring between Benedick and Beatrice, two of Shakespeare's most gloriously realized characters. With its piquant blend of prickly banter, mistaken identities, and swoon-worthy romance, Much Ado About Nothing is sheer theatrical delight.