Pictured: Pre-production photo featuring Ian Merrill Peakes and Chaon Cross. Photo by Jeff Sciortino.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater has announced the cast and creative team for MACBETH, adapted and directed by Teller (of Penn & Teller) and Aaron Posner—the creative duo behind CST’s production of THE TEMPEST, winner of the Jeff Award for Best Production in 2015. The production will feature Ian Merrill Peakes as Macbeth and Chaon Cross as Lady Macbeth, and the rest of the cast includes:

Adam Wesley Brown, Malcolm
McKinley Carter, Weird Sister
Kyle Curry, Donalbain
Christopher Donahue, Duncan/Doctor
Theo Germaine, Weird Sister
Jennifer Latimore, Lady Macduff/Gentlewoman
Ronnie Malley, Ensemble
Matthew Floyd Miller, Porter/Siward
Austin Molinaro, Fleance
Emily Ann Nichelson, Weird Sister
Reilly Oh, Seyton
Sam Pearson, Young Siward
Cage Sebastian Pierre, Angus
Edgar Miguel Sanchez, Lennox
Timothy D. Stickney, Macduff
Samuel Taylor, Ross
Bret Tuomi, Bloody Sergeant
Andrew White, Banquo
Micah Wilson, Macduff Son
LiSean McElrath, Ensemble
Alexander James Poe, Ensemble
Dylan Obrochta, Ensemble

Teller and Posner’s production will be put together by a creative team including Magician Johnny Thompson — whom Teller describes as “undisputedly the greatest living source of magical knowledge” — as Magic Designer. Scenic Designer Daniel Conway, Costume Designer Mara Blumenfeld and Lighting Designer Thom Weaver will create the visual world, while Sound Designer Andre Pluess composes original music and orchestrations—creating a soundscape with a series of unique instruments invented for this production by percussionist Kenny Wollesen, a longtime collaborator of Tom Waits.

Posner shared, “At our core, Teller and I are both populists. We passionately believe in Shakespeare for everyone. And an amazing story like this—full of magic, music, witches, blood and beheadings—is designed to have everyone sitting on the edge of their seats to see what thrills are in store.”

“We’re trying to put you, the audience member, in the same off-kilter position in relation to the production as Macbeth is to his world,” Teller said. “When something happens on stage that seems to defy the rules of physics—all of a sudden what’s happening to you is echoing the story.”

MACBETH runs April 25th – June 24th at The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare. For more information visit www.chicagoshakes.com.