USMH Presents
Ionesco's Macbett
A STAGED READING
Ionesco’s Macbett: A Staged Reading
Directed by Veronica Carey Matthews
Our third production will be a staged reading of Ionesco’s Macbett taking place on September 26th at 7pm at the Victory Theatre Center in Burbank. Our cast and creative team are all filled by female, transgender, and non-binary talent. Parts have been cast with no limitations due to age, ethnicity, gender, body type or mobility.
Location: The Victory Theater Center - 3326 W Victory Blvd., Burbank, CA 91505
Tickets: This show is free to attend.
Donations are appreciated but not required. Donors are allowed into the theater early for preferred seating. With a $20 donation, you receive one preferred seating ticket, two for $35.
DONATE HERE http://spot.fund/v4hd34msc
Cast & Production Team
VERONICA CAREY MATTHEWS
DIRECTOR - VERONICA CAREY MATTHEWS (SHE/HER)
Veronica has been participating in local theatre in LA for over a decade, having acted in and directed dozens of productions as well as writing and producing her own productions. Most relevantly, she studied Macbeth in both middle school and high school and in 2018 was able to understudy (with two actual performances) of the titular role of Macbeth in "Macbeth" (before transitioning a few years later). She's extremely grateful to be a part of such a collective that gives opportunity to women/non-binary/trans people, and especially to direct such a fun take on a Shakespeare classic with Eugene Ionesco's "Macbett"!
KATE FAYE
MACBETT - KATE FAYE (SHE/HER)
Kate is delighted to be joining Unsex Me Here Players for Ionesco’s Macbett. She has performed across the United States and in London, basing her career in Los Angeles for the past 20 years. Some of her favorite roles in Los Angeles include Calpurnia in Julius Caesar (Revelry Theatre Group), Barbara in Night of the Living Dead (The Group Rep), and Lillian Spencer in Anatomy of a Back (KickBoom Theater). She has been a Porters of Hellsgate company member since 2009, with credits including Goneril in King Lear, Skyler in Breaking Bard and Mistress Quickly in Henry IV Parts 1 and 2. Regional theater highlights include Cinderella in Into the Woods, Lainie in Two Rooms, and Rachel in Reckless. Film credits include My Name is Myeisha and Timon Hates You. Kate is also a writer, director and musician.
DANA LYN BARON
BANCO - DANA LYN BARON (SHE/HER)
Dana is a multifaceted artist whose career spans film, television, theatre, and voice-over. Known for her dynamic screen presence and range, she has contributed to acclaimed and award-winning projects. Film credits include Aaron Sorkin’s Being the Ricardos with Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem, and David Fincher’s Mank with Gary Oldman. On television, she has appeared in award-winning series including HBO’s Hacks, NBC’s This Is Us, Showtime’s Shameless, and FX’s TheAssassination of Gianni Versace. As a voice actor, Dana has brought several iconic characters to life, including Sonya Blade the Mortal Kombat franchise and Lady Liadrin in World of Warcraft. She’s currently in post-production on the 2nd installment oft he award-winning Betty & Mary Trilogy which she wrote, produces and stars in. IG:
@danalynbaron @bettyandmaryfilm
AMIR LEVI
LADY DUNCAN/ FIRST WITCH/ LADY MACBETT - AMIR LEVI (HE/SHE/THEY)
Amir’s Credits include Mariology (Critical Mass Performance Group & Boston Court), Miracle on 55th Street (PRT), Bat Boy (Open Fist), Happy Fall: A Queer Stunt Spectacular (Rogue Artists & Los Angeles LGBT Center), Waiting (Playwrights Arena), MARCH (LGBT Center & Playwrights Arena), Nathan C. Jones: A Love Story? (theblank YouTube Channel), Wood Boy Dog Fish (RogueAE& Garry Marshall), Something Truly Monstrous (the blank), The Behavior of Broadus (Burglars of Hamm). TV: "Night Court, “Grand Crew,” “911,” “Fresh Off the Boat,” “Speechless,” “Brooklyn 99,” “New Girl,” “The Middle,” “Casual,” “Transparent,” Film: “Head-Tie,” “Courting Chaos,” “Special Needs.” Represented by Smith & Hervey/Grimes, and Debra Manners Talent. theamirlevi.com. IG: @theamirlevi
BRINA
LADY IN WAITING/ SECOND WITCH - BRINA (SHE/THEY)
Brina is a multifaceted artist, creative, and performer. This is her first time working on a theatrical production as her authentic self, officially. She has 20+ years of stage experience. Which includes Directing, Choreographing, Performing, Producing, as well as Crew/Set Work. She is eternally grateful for this opportunity to return to her theatrical roots, aka “home.” She is sending positive energy to those who need it most.
DEBBA ROFHEART
DUNCAN - DEBBA ROFHEART
Debba Rofheart is an LA based actor, born and raised in Long Island, New York, where her mom dragged her to shows in Manhattan, from early childhood. It was there, in Broadway's theaters, that the magic of performing infused her. She earned her BFA in Theatre Performance from the University of Florida, but did not pursue acting professionally until after a long indentured servitude as a corporate wage slave. Since her emancipation, she has returned to acting. Theatre is her great love and Shakespeare's works most especially. Favorite roles are, King Cymbeline, with The Porters of Hellsgate; and Peter Quince, in Open Fist Theatre Company's acclaimed production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." You can see her on the small screen in NCIS: Origins' episode, "Johnny B. Goode." She is a proud member of USMH Players, The Vagrancy, and Playground-LA theatre companies. Thank you for supporting live theatre!
MIRANDA WYNNE
CANDOR - MIRANDA WYNNE (SHE/HER)
Miranda Wynne is thrilled to be playing with Unsex Me Here Players for the first time! She is currently touring California with Imagination Stage and Kaiser Permanente’s Educational Theatre. Some favorite credits include: Rotterdam (Kirk Douglas/Skylight: Best Lead Performance nomination LA Drama Critics Circle, Stage Raw and Broadway World); Punk Rock (Odyssey Theatre) Oppenheimer; Earthquakes in London (Rogue Machine Theatre), Three Sisters (La Jolla Playhouse), Middletown; Vanya Sonia Masha and Spike; Antigone Rex (Pacific Resident Theatre) We Are Proud to Present... (Third Culture Theatre). B.A. Theatre, UC San Diego @mirandamwynne
KRISHA DEAVER
GLAMISS - KRISHA DEAVER (SHE/HER)
Krisha is excited to return to Unsex Me Here Players after appearing as Hamlet #1 in their first staged reading. She recently performed in the world premiere of The Far Gaze (as Nathan/Abigail) with Salt Lake City's classical theater company Sting & Honey, where she previously played Polina in The Seagull. She works as an actor, speaker, writer, and educational consultant. Other favorite credits include two one-act plays for LA's Brisk Festival—Helga's Wonderful Life (which she wrote and performed) and Brownie Husband (which she wrote and performed with her husband, Cam). She sends infinite gratitude to Cam for all his incredible support.
XIOMARA "XIO" BERNARD
OFFICER/ ENSEMBLE - XIOMARA “XIO” BERNARD (SHE/HE/THEY)
Born and raised in Philadelphia, P.A., Bernar is the daughter of a former Cuban refugee and a former Cuban political prisoner. Bernard grew up taking lessons in piano and ballet, but acting was always the career that took precedence inside her heart. Bernard first worked with Unsex Me Here Players as The Ghost King/First Player/Captain in the staged reading of Hamlet. She is excited to return for Eugene Ionasco's Macbett. You can catch Bernard in a Zevia commercial with Cardi B! She recently worked on short films, including Izzy Steven's new short film "Survival Job". Bernard also worked on music videos, voice-overs, plays, and feature films, including Brielle Brilliant's feature film "Firstness", which won the Grand Jury Prize Award at the Outfest Film Festival. "Firstness" is currently streaming on Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime.
COURTNEY BRECHEMIN
MACOL - COURTNEY BRECHEMIN (SHE/HER)
Courtney is an actor and dancer from Delaware county, Pennsylvania and based in Los Angeles. Courtney's theatrical credits include City Garage: Telemachus [teenage boy] and son to Emily Asher Kellis's Odysseus in the Penelopiad, Kolya Lukashenko [president's teenage son] in Insulted Belarus, Lucio [teenage boy, energetically] in Measure for Measure, Marie the maid in Bald Soprano [spy/detective]; Somebody Somewhere with AM Sannazzaro's The Collective Troupe [angel princess, deranged], Winter's Tale with Ophelia's Jump [toddler boy, lesbian princess, time itself], Medea Unleashed with Immersive Arts Collective [witch critter]. Courtney has been so delighted to have spent the summer working on Prison break, was also recently very murdered on Criminal Minds and can be seen roller skating on Monster: Ed Gein. Her hands are on tour with Ariana Grande and you can also see her all over Tove Lo's Estrus album art. Courtney also worked on ninety-six verticals before the machines took over- she prayed for their downfall but did have a few enjoyable experiences. Courtney is hoping to have a clean pull up by the time we do this reading!
SKYLAR SILVERLAKE
ENSEMBLE - SKYLAR SILVERLAKE (THEY/THEM)
Skylar Silverlake is a Los Angeles-based actor with a background in theatre and film, but has specialized in voice acting for video games, animation, and audio drama since 2007. A rebel with many causes, they are also an avid reader, gamer, and nature lover, as well as a writer of their own video game projects and an advocate for bi+ visibility in the industry. Past stage credits include: External Forces (Achilles, in a modern adaptation of Euripides' Hecuba) at A Noise Within, Count Dracula in the world theatrical premiere of The Wings of Dracula (with Fierce Backbone), Mueller in Black Annie and the Pastor (with Towne Street Theatre), Newton and Robinson in Community (with Theatre 40), Zachary in the world premiere of Exhibition of Love (with Towne Street Theatre), Tyler in Finding the Burnett Heart (Neo Ensemble Theatre). Other credits include multiple award-winning independent feature films, the psychological thriller I May Regret and provocative LGBT drama Unfix (both by Imperative Pictures), various roles in the video game Genshin Impact (MiHoYo), and most recently, as the English voice of Ayato in the new romance anime series The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity (Netflix). They have also recently appeared in multiple live performances of classic radio plays and audio dramas staged by the official SAG-AFTRA Radio Plays Committee (SARP) and the SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Local at the Autry Museum Theatre.As a fan of Shakespeare, classical theatre, and member of the Unsex Me Here Players, they are excited to once again be bringing classic works back to the stage, including such brilliant reimaginings and reinterpretations as Ionesco's Macbett.
EMILY ROSE MCLEOD
ENSEMBLE - EMILY ROSE MCLEOD (SHE/HER)
A longtime lover of absurdism, Shakespeare, and lemonade, Emily is absolutely thrilled to be part of this reading. Previously, she has performed with theatre companies including Theatricum Botanicum, A Noise Within, and Lloyd Schwartz’s Storybook Theatre. Her web series, When Mary Met Betsy, is currently screening in festivals across the country, and she recently won Best Actress at the New York City International Film Festival. She would like to thank the production team for this wonderful opportunity.
CAROL ELAINE CYR
ENSEMBLE - CAROL ELAINE CYR (SHE/HER)
A born and raised Navy brat, Carol’s first stage experience was at the age of 6, when she was Seamstress in Stone Soup. She’s been in love with acting ever since. After an unintentional 20-year hiatus between 1994 and 2014 – during which she explored office work in industries such as entertainment, politics, and at NASA – Carol jumped back onstage in her 40s and hasn’t stopped acting. Stage credits include The Boys Next Door, Much Ado About Nothing, Vavilov's Garden, Shakespeare in Hollywood, Museum, Twelfth Night, Fiddler on the Roof, and BackStory. Currently pursuing a BA in Theatre at CSULA, Carol is beyond thrilled to work with UnSex Me Here Players.
THEO EMBECK
ENSEMBLE - THEO EMBECK (HE/HIM)
Theo is a therapist by day and multihyphenate theater-maker by night. Favorite projects include producing Son of Semele's Company Creation Festival, an incubator for devised work, for several years, adapting classic queer novels for the stage, and creating weird little solo shows like Spice Up Your Sex Life til it Burns and Christopher Nolan Hates Women. You can catch the latter at the Los Angeles LGBT Center on November 20th.
JERRY DWYER
ENSEMBLE - JERRY DWYER (SHE/THEY)
Jerry has been performing in productions both on camera and on stage since she was a child. She excelled in her High School’s Theater program in Boston, MA. In her 20’s she booked roles in commercials where she made Car Insurance, Life insurance, and furniture shopping “look easy”. In 2012 she booked the lead on a feature length Horror film and lived on a Haunted ship for a month while filming. Her most recent performances were in “The Man Who Ate Time” and "The Sun Has Fallen". Jerry recently returned to acting after 10 years of prioritizing her career as a Casting Director. IG: @JerryDwyerJr
SARAH HUNTER
ENSEMBLE - SARAH HUNTER (SHE/HER)
Sarah Hunter is a Los Angeles-based playwright, actor and producer. Her full length plays, as well as 10-minute plays and solo shows, have been produced in the Los Angeles and Pasadena areas. Sarah’s co-created “We’re Not Dead Yet” series has received 13 awards and may be seen on Youtube. She is a member of NEO Ensemble, Fierce Backbone, and a Board member in ALAP. Sarah is currently working on a new play which she performed initially as a one-woman show, “Dogs are Better than People.” When she’s not acting and writing plays, she enjoys writing Theater Reviews for The Larchmont Buzz and her SUBSTACK where she can talk about anything.
PAULA K. LONG
ENSEMBLE - PAULA K. LONG(SHE/HER)
One day in Kindergarten many (many) years ago, the teacher asked the children what they wanted to be when they grew up. All the other little girls said they wanted to be teachers, nurses or mommies; Paula said she wanted to be an actress. And, well, here she is! Paula is very happy to be joining Unsex Me Here players in this staged reading.
LEIA VOGEL
STAGE DIRECTIONS - LEIA VOGEL (SHE/HER)