A member of 20% Theatre Company right here in Chicago, Deanne recently joined us as Lady MacDuff in our 2013 season-closer, MacBeth. Now she’s back to help us open our 2014 season with Twelfth Night On Twelfth Night!
Q: How did you first come to work with Unrehearsed Shakespeare?
DEANNE: I played Helena in The Rover with 20% Theatre Company Chicago, which was directed by Unrehearsed’s managing director Jessie Mutz. I really enjoyed working with Jessie and saw her in Unrehearsed’s Twelfth Night last year. I found the production so inspiring I immediately read the book on the technique, and was thrilled to take a workshop with the company and perform in Much Ado last spring.
Q: Has Unrehearsed had any influence on how you approach more conventional productions?
DEANNE: I have experience doing a lot of outdoor Shakespeare, so I love that audience interaction is an integral part of the Unrehearsed technique. I also love dissecting the thou and you relationships and definitely applied that in the outdoor production of As You Like It I was in last summer.
Q: You’ve played Conrad in Much Ado About Nothing and Lady MacDuff in Mackers. Did you find any difference in how you approach comedies vs tragedies, or is it too early to say?
DEANNE: My gut reaction is no. I think so much about this technique is crowd-control–and I mean that in the best way possible. In either comedy or tragedy, it’s about keeping the stakes high and holding the audience’s attention.
Q: You’ve performed exclusively in Chicago bars thus far. How do the intimate spaces influence your work? How much prep goes into your crossing and physicality?
DEANNE: In cramped spaces like the bars we’ve been in, I find the performance becomes about making and invading space; both the other actors’ space and the audience members’ space. I’m excited to create some more opportunities in Twelfth Night.
Q: What else can we see from Deanne McDonald in 2014?
DEANNE: I will be directing Wizard of Oz Junior with Skyline Studios children’s theater this spring, and continuing my work as an ensemble member with Public House Theater and artistic associate with 20% Theatre Company Chicago.
Come watch Deanne work the crowd at Twelfth Night on Twelfth Night!
January 5th and 7th
JUSTIN’S, 3358 N Southport Ave, second floor
Doors open at 7:00, show starts at 7:30
$5 Suggested Donation
PLUS: After the show, we’ll be announcing our Season lineup for 2014.
