Written and Performed by Whitney White
Directed by Taibi Magar and Tyler Dobrowsky
Choreographed by Raja Feather Kelly
The Queen is center stage. In a stacked setlist of original pop, rock, gospel, and R&B bangers, OBIE Award winner Whitney White subverts one of Shakespeare’s most iconic tales. The arc of Lady Macbeth is reimagined as the story of an ambitious Black woman, told through her own contemporary perspective of femininity, desire, and power with a capital P. Dazzlingly theatrical, Macbeth in Stride brings Lady M’s herstory into the 21st century with energy, humor, and swagger to spare.
Yale Rep’s 2024–25 WILL POWER! education program will include a 10AM performance of Macbeth in Stride on December 12 for high school students from New Haven Public Schools, entirely free of charge. For more information on the program, please contact Senior Artistic Producer Amy Boratko at amy.boratko@yale.edu.
Special performances
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Wednesday Matinee
December 11, 2:00 pm
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Open Caption in Spanish
December 13, 8:00 pm
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Talk Back
December 14, 2:00 pm
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Audio Description
December 14, 2:00 pm
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Open Caption
December 14, 2:00 pm
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Touch Tour
December 14, 2:00 pm
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ASL
December 14, 8:00 pm
Meet the Artists
Creative Team
Whitney White
Playwright
Whitney White
Whitney White she/her – Broadway: Jaja’s African Hair Braiding. London: The Secret Life of Bees (The Almeida). Off- Broadway: Soft (MCC Theater), On Sugarland (New York Theatre Workshop), What to Send Up When It Goes Down (The Public Theater, ART, Woolly Mammoth, Our Dear Dead Drug Lord (Second Stage, WP Theatre), For All the Women Who Thought They Were Mad (Soho Rep), A Human Being of a Sort (Williamsburg). Writing and composition: Macbeth in Stride (American Repertory Theater, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Shakespeare Theatre Company), Semblance (NYTW). Awards: Herb Alpert, Jerome Fellowship, Rolex Arts Initiative. Television writing: Boots Riley’s I’m A Virgo (Amazon, Media Res). Whitney is an Associate Artist at Roundabout Theatre and Associate Director at Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C.
Taibi Magar
Director
Taibi Magar
Taibi Magar – New York/Off-Broadway: The Half-God of Rainfall (New York Theatre Workshop); Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 (Signature Theatre, Lucille Lortel Award for Best Revival); Capsule (The Public Theater); Claudia Rankine’s Help (The Shed); Blue Ridge, The Great Leap (Atlantic Theater Company); Is God Is (Soho Rep.); Master (The Foundry, New York Times Critic’s Pick); Underground Railroad Game (Ars Nova, NYT Critic’s Pick). International: Hamburg Festival, Edinburgh Festival, Malthouse Theatre (Melbourne), Soho Theatre (London). Selected regional: Woolly Mammoth Theatre, Alley Theatre, The Guthrie Theater, Seattle Rep. Awards: 2018 OBIE Award, 2019 SDC Breakout, Lucille Lortel nomination, 2022 Stephen Sondheim Fellowship, Oregon Shakespeare Festival Fellowship, The Public Theater Shakespeare Fellowship. Taibi serves as Artistic Director of Philadelphia Theatre Company. Training: M.F.A., Brown University; Lincoln Center Directors Lab; NYTW Usual Suspect.
Tyler Dobrowsky
Director
Tyler Dobrowsky
Tyler Dobrowsky – New York/Off-Broadway: The Public Theater. Regional: American Repertory Theater, Asolo Repertory Theatre, The Gamm Theatre, Long Wharf Theatre, Philadelphia Theatre Company, PlayMakers Repertory Company, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Trinity Repertory Company. Tyler currently serves as Artistic Director of Philadelphia Theatre Company. Previously served as Artistic Associate Director and Director of New Play Development at Trinity Repertory Company and Practitioner in Residence at the Swearer Center for Public Service at Brown University. Teaching: Brown, NYU, Rhode Island College, UPenn.
Raja Feather Kelly
Choreographer
Raja Feather Kelly
Raja Feather Kelly is a choreographer and director, and the artistic director of the dance-theatre-media company the feath3r theory, for which he has created 18 premieres, most recently Ugly Part 3: Blue (Chelsea Factory) and The Absolute Future (NYU Skirball). Kelly’s work appears on stages across the country, including Girls at Yale Rep, Bunny Bunny at UC San Diego, and most recently, Teeth at Playwrights Horizons. His choreography was seen in White Girl in Danger at Second Stage Theater. He choreographed the Broadway musicals Lempicka and A Strange Loop (premiered Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizon), winner of two Tony Awards, including Best Musical. His Off-Broadway collaborators include Lileana Blain-Cruz, Sarah Benson, and Michael R. Jackson. His work has been seen at Playwrights Horizon, New York Theatre Workshop, The Public Theater, La Jolla Playhouse, Soho Rep and New York Live Arts, among many other venues. He’s worked on two Pulitzer Prize-winning productions and has received a Princeton Arts speaker Fellowship, three Princess Grace Awards, an OBIE Award, an Outer Critics Circle honor, and many others. Upcoming: The Fires at Soho Rep.
Nygel D. Robinson
Music Director
Nygel D. Robinson
Nygel D. Robinson is an artist based in Chicago. Select theater credits include playing Brother Davis and serving as Music Director in The Amen Corner (Shakespeare Theatre Company), Jimmy Powers in Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill (Mercury Theater), and actor/musician in The All Night Strut (Milwaukee Rep). Nygel has his hands in many other projects as a composer/lyricist, music director, music producer, and educator. Nygel is the co-creator of and performer in the new live-looped musical Mexodus, which started development at New York Stage and Film in early 2020, had its world premiere at Baltimore Center Stage and Mosaic Theatre in Washington D.C., and recently finished a run at Berkeley Rep.
Daniel Soule
Scenic Designer
Daniel Soule
Daniel Soule is a scenic and production designer based in lower Manhattan. Recent productions include Roméo et Juliette at the Washington National Opera and King Lear at the Shakespeare Theatre Company. Dan also teaches design at the NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Many thanks to Whitney, Yale Rep, and the creative team. danielsouledesign.com
Qween Jean
Costume Designer
Qween Jean
Qween Jean is a New York-based stage and film costume designer. They have worked at the Shakespeare Theatre Company, Signature Theatre, and Santa Fe Opera. She is a native of South Florida and began her theater career at Florida School of the Arts. Qween has earned a bachelor’s degree in business communications at the University of North Carolina and costume studies at Greensboro College. She has an M.F.A. in design from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Qween has designed costumes for over 80 productions, works freelance throughout the year, and is the Assistant Costume Shop Manager at the Chautauqua Theater Company. Her shows include Our Dear Dead Drug Lord, One in Two, Siblings Play, Amen Corner, Rags Parkland, Good Grief, Othello, Wig Out!, Playboy of the West Indies, A Doll’s House, and highly acclaimed What to Send Up When it Goes Down by Aleshea Harris.
Jeanette Oi-Suk-Yew
Lighting Designer
Jeanette Oi-Suk-Yew
Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew is an award-winning designer for theater, dance, opera, musicals, music performances, and large-scale immersive installation. The New York Times described her designs as “clever” and “inventive.” She is excited to bring Macbeth in Stride to Yale Rep. Broadway: Kimberly Akimbo and The Thanksgiving Play. Off-Broadway: The Connector (MCC Theater); Golden Shield (Manhattan Theatre Club); cullud wattah, Manahatta (The Public); The Nosebleed, Your Own Personal Exegesis (LCT3); american (tele)visions (New York Theatre Workshop); Snow in Midsummer (Classis Stage Company). Regional: King Lear (Shakespeare Theatre Company), WILD: A Musical Becoming (A.R.T.), Walden (TheaterWorks Hartford). Other: Oratorio for Living Things (Ars Nova), Theatre of the Mind with David Byrne. jeanetteyew.com
Nick Kourtides
Sound Designer
Nick Kourtides
Nick Kourtides is the global sound designer for Magic Mike Live in Las Vegas, London, Berlin, and Australia. Recent theater: Three Houses (Signature), The Keep Going Songs (LCT3), Travels (Ars Nova), Heather Christian’s TERCE (Prototype). Other Off-Broadway: Oratorio for Living Things (Ars Nova), Blacklight (Greenwich House), The Lucky Ones (Ars Nova), Object Lesson (NYTW, BAM), Elephant Room (St. Ann’s), Carson McCullers Talks About Love (Rattlestick), and Jomama Jones: Radiate (Soho Rep). Regional: Shakespeare Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Cleveland Playhouse, New York Stage and Film, McCarter, Center Theatre Group, Geffen, Folger, Studio, Milwaukee Rep, the Wilma, the Arden, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Prince Music Theater, La Jolla Playhouse, and Pig Iron Theatre Company. Nick has taught Sound Design for Live Performance at Drexel University and Swarthmore College. He has received an Obie, Lucille Lortel, Bessie, and Barrymore awards. nickkourtides.com
Rachel Padula-Shufelt
Hair and Wig Designer
Rachel Padula-Shufelt
Rachel Padula-Shufelt Broadway credits include The Glass Menagerie and Waitress. At American Repertory Theatre: Becoming a Man, Life of Pi, Macbeth in Stride, Black Clown, Waitress, Marie Antoinette, Crossing; and three Elliot Norton award winners for Best Design: Moby Dick, Fingersmith, Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812. Huntington Theatre Company: John Proctor is the Villain, The Band’s Visit, The Heart Sellers, Joy and Pandemic, The Colored Museum. Rachel is the hair and makeup supervisor for Boston Ballet and the resident hair and wig designer for North Shore Music Theatre.
Constanza Etchechury López
Technical Director
Constanza Etchechury López
Costanza Etchechury López is a second-year M.F.A. candidate at David Geffen School of Drama.
Grace Zandarski
Vocal Coach
Grace Zandarski
Grace Zandarski is Associate Chair of the Acting program and Head of Voice and Text at David Geffen School of Drama, where she has taught Voice since 2002. She has coached numerous productions at Yale Rep and the Geffen School including The Brightest Thing in the World, An Enemy of the People, Hamlet, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, and Between Two Knees. New York coaching credits include Mike Nichols’s productions of Death of a Salesman and Betrayal (Broadway), The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide… (The Public Theater), and Homebody/Kabul (BAM). She was named Associate Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework in 1998. Grace is Co-Artistic Director of The Actors Center Workshop Company, a company member of Pantheatre (Paris), SAG-AFTRA, AEA, and VASTA. Acting credits include McCarter Theatre, OSF Ashland, Wilma Theatre, and ACT. Directing credits include the Peer Gynt Project and Chekhov Shorts. M.F.A., American Conservatory Theater; B.A., Princeton University.
Taylor Williams
Casting Director
Taylor Williams
Taylor Williams is an Artios Award-winning casting director. Film: Good One (Sundance 2024, Cannes Director’s Fortnight); The Front Room (A24, 2am Films, Two & Two Pictures); Omni Loop (2am Films); Rocky’s Deli (Ben Cohen, Patrick Donovan, Grant Curatola); What the Constitution Means to Me (Amazon Prime). Broadway: the current Romeo and Juliet; Stereophonic; An Enemy of the People; The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window (also at BAM) ; POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive; Slave Play; Is This a Room, Dana H., What the Constitution Means to Me (NYTW, Barrow Street, Broadway, National Tour). New media: amfAR’s The Great Work Begins featuring scenes from Tony Kushner’s Angels in America and Ratatouille: the TikTok Musical benefit for the Actors Fund. She has worked also at New York Theatre Workshop, The Mercury Store, The Perelman Arts Center, Soho Rep, Rattlestick, Theatre for a New Audience, Two River Theater, Fisher Center at Bard, Shakespeare Theatre, Studio Theatre, Arena Stage, Berkeley Rep, Seattle Rep, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Williamstown Theatre Festival, New York Stage and Film, among others. She is the resident casting director for Page 73 Productions. Upcoming: Purple Rain the musical.
Zachry J. Bailey
Stage Manager
Zachry J. Bailey
Zachry J. Bailey he/him – Zack is honored to return to Yale Rep and champion their season. Thank you to those who have filled my life with light and joy. Love to Isuri. Tours: Hadestown (First National). Off-Broadway: Cats: The Jellicle Ball (PAC NYC). Select Regional: Memnon (Classical Theatre of Harlem); A Raisin in the Sun (canceled due to COVID), The Plot, Twelfth Night (Yale Rep); Jesus Christ Superstar (Connecticut Repertory); Broadway for Biden. Film: CRAM (Radical Rhinoceros Pictures), Overlook (Two + Eight Productions), and The Promotion (C1 Media). @zachryjbailey
Cast
Phoenix Best
Second Witch
Phoenix Best
Phoenix Best is so excited to be rejoining this show! Her Broadway credits include Dear Evan Hansen (Alana Beck) and the revival of The Color Purple (swing). She also played Eponine in the 2017 North American Tour of Les Misérables. Other theater credits include Mary in the world premiere of A.D. 16 at Olney Theatre Center, Deena Jones in Dreamgirls at TUTS, and Witch in Macbeth in Stride at A.R.T. Television and film: The Best Man: The Final Chapters (Nicole), Twisted Assistant (Stella), Love Life (Ogechi), Estella Scrooge (Mercy and Charity), From Sea to Rising Sea (Lu).
Holli' Conway
First Witch
Holli' Conway
Holli’ Conway is overjoyed to be a part of this incredible work! Credits include the Broadway productions of Six, Lempicka, and Tina; and most recently, the role of Lorraine in the Papermill Playhouse production of Jersey Boys. Holli’ was Miss Louisiana 2018. Thank you to 44 West Entertainment, DGRW, and Taylor Williams Casting! To my circle. For my family. All glory to God! @Welcometo_holliwood
Ciara Alyse Harris
Third Witch
Ciara Alyse Harris
Ciara Alyse Harris is overjoyed to be a part of this production at Yale Rep! Her credits include Dear Evan Hansen (Broadway) and White Girl in Danger (Second Stage). Tour: The First National Tour of Dear Evan Hansen. Regional: All Shook Up, Gypsy (The Muny); Spring Awakening (The 5th Avenue Theatre); Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Cape Playhouse). B.F.A., CCM. When not performing, she’s working on her podcast Queen Made of Light to help others find the light within themselves. She is so grateful to be a part of this incredible company and team! @ciaraalyse
Charlie Thurston
"Man"
Charlie Thurston
Charlie Thurston is an actor and playwright and is making his Yale Rep debut. He co-wrote Someone Will Remember Us with Deborah Salem Smith which will premiere at Trinity Rep in Providence, Rhode Island, in January 2025. Off-Broadway: Here There Are Blueberries (New York Theatre Workshop) and The Wedge Horse (Fault Line). Selected Regional: Macbeth in Stride (Shakespeare Theatre Company, Philadelphia Theatre Company, A.R.T.); Here There are Blueberries (La Jolla, Shakespeare Theatre Company); Prince of Providence, The Song of Summer (Trinity Rep); Three Sisters (Arden); Completely Fictional—Utterly True—Final Strange Tale of Edgar Allan Poe (Baltimore Center Stage). Selected film and television: Finestkind, Boston Strangler, Life Itself, Julia, Dexter, SVU. He has narrated a bunch of audiobooks, including the Pulitzer Prize winner Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. Training: Brown/Trinity Rep. charliethurston.net
Whitney White
"Woman"
Whitney White
Whitney White she/her – Broadway: Jaja’s African Hair Braiding. London: The Secret Life of Bees (The Almeida). Off- Broadway: Soft (MCC Theater), On Sugarland (New York Theatre Workshop), What to Send Up When It Goes Down (The Public Theater, ART, Woolly Mammoth, Our Dear Dead Drug Lord (Second Stage, WP Theatre), For All the Women Who Thought They Were Mad (Soho Rep), A Human Being of a Sort (Williamsburg). Writing and composition: Macbeth in Stride (American Repertory Theater, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Shakespeare Theatre Company), Semblance (NYTW). Awards: Herb Alpert, Jerome Fellowship, Rolex Arts Initiative. Television writing: Boots Riley’s I’m A Virgo (Amazon, Media Res). Whitney is an Associate Artist at Roundabout Theatre and Associate Director at Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C.