Untitled Page

The Cast In order of appearance
First Witch	Jillian Pizzuto
Second Witch	Claire White
Third Witch	Renée Gàndola
Macbeth	Jeffrey Lippold
Banquo	James Gary Byrd
Ross	Martin M. White
Duncan	Alex Sandie
Malcolm	Ben Morales
Macduff	Eric Hensley/Kent Gàndola
Lennox	Tim Montes
Lady Macbeth	Jo Anne Scott
Porter	Martin M. White
Murderer	Marcus Correia
Lady Macduff	Renee Gàndola
Hecate	Vanessa Jones
Son of Macduff	Rafe Gàndola/Alex Jafek
Doctor	William Savage/Marcus Corriea
Gentlewoman	Vanessa Jones
Young Siward	Tim Montes

Scroll down to read cast biographies

	James Gary Byrd (Banquo and Set Design) Making his debut with Coronado Playhouse, Mr. Byrd brings a wealth of local theater experience to our stage. A featured player for the Octad-One Production’s “Shakespeare by the Lake” series, he has appeared as Petruchio in Taming of the Shrew, Bottom in Midsummer Night’s Dream, Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night, Ford in Merry Wives of Windsor, Capulet in Romeo and Juliet and “Lodovico” in Othello. He lists his favorite role to date as portraying the determined poet “W.E.Henley” in a staged reading of the radio play Silver for Ensemble Arts Theatre. Other performances include: Romeo and Juliet and King Lear with The Naked Shakespeare Co.; Amadeus at the Ruse Marquis Theatre; Poor Murderer at the Old Globe’s Cassius Carter Centre Stage; Mouse That Roared, Bus Stop, Full Circle and Verdict for the Lamplighters; Lion in Winter, Three Murders and it’s Only Monday, Once Upon a Mattress and Something’s Afoot with Santee Community Theater. Serving in every aspect of play production over the past three decades, this native San Diego artist has received various ACT and Aldea Award nominations for acting, directing, technical effects, as well as designing for both set and sound. (Including an Aubrey award for his sound design of Amadeus with Octad-One Productions). A former ACT San Diego vice president and board member, James enjoys his spare time creating strategic simulations, writing, presenting living history projects, and studying classical theater. “I would like to dedicate this performance to the fond memory of the late Martin Gerrish, who brought to many of us a deeper and more profound respect for the craft of theater.”
	Marcus Allen Correia (Murderer and Doctor Understudy) an Imperial Beach resident, retired from the U.S. Naval Air Force in 1992 and presently works as an aircraft mechanic in the aerospace industry. He became active in theatre, working backstage at the Coronado Playhouse in 1999 for The Tempest. Marcus shared stage-managing duties with his wife Teena for The Uninvited, Rumors, Everybody Loves Opal, Murder at the Vicarage, The Hollow, Moon Over Buffalo, & Twelfth Night. He acted in The Mousetrap, Twelfth Night, Moon Over Buffalo, The Hollow, Murder at the Vicarage, MASH, The Gospel at Colonus, The Taming of the Shrew, Everybody Loves Opal, Much Ado About Nothing,* and Biloxi Blues. Marcus won Best Costuming 2002 for the soldier uniforms in Biloxi Blues and did tech on Cinderella. He received an Aubrey nomination for Best Actor in a Major Support for The Mousetrap.
	Kent Gándola (Macduff) Kent is excited to perform again with CPH in the new pavilion that he helped to design and construct. Kent was part of last year’s Twelfth Night cast and is thrilled to be acting with his family and wielding the sword of truth and justice once again. He has also appeared in other community and university productions of Company B, The Man Who Came to Dinner, Cinderella, and Ten Little Indians. Kent is grateful to the director, the producer, the cast, and the crew for their help and tireless efforts. He would also like to thank you, the audience, for your support of live theater. And oh, by the way, if you think Kent would make a better Zorro than Antonio Banderas, a few whistles at curtain call will help his standing with his wife.
	Rafe Gándola (Son of Macduff) After successful seasons in cross country and track this past year, Rafe takes on the Bard once again. At the age of 11, Rafe started acting when he took part as Flute in Shakespeare’s comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream at The Old Globe’s “The Real Globe.” Rafe then joined in the Marx Brothers wacky comedy, Room Service at Carmel Valley Middle School, where he had the part of the energetic dreamer, Faker Englund. But perhaps Rafe’s greatest pride and joy came from the demanding role of Stage Manager in Our Town, which he did in connection with North Coast Repertory Theatre. He would like to thank his family and friends for all of their support, but most of all, he would like to thank his mom.
	Renée Gándola (Third Witch and Lady Macduff) Renée is delighted to return to the Coronado Playhouse where she has appeared as Olivia in Twelfth Night and Mollie in The Mousetrap. She enjoyed helping to construct the new Coronado Playhouse pavilion; it brought a new dimension to the term “method acting” as her character Mollie also set-up and opened a new guesthouse. Locally, while in college, and through The American Repertory Theater in Europe, Renée has performed in The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Heiress, Frankie and Johnny, Seascape, Charlotte’s Web and several others. Although acting is her first love, Renée has also enjoyed directing – from the historical musical Company B written by local playwright Toni Thomas, to first-time performers at several San Diego schools. Renée has a Performance Degree from BYU and a Television Performance Certificate from SD City College. She thanks the cast, crew, director, and her fabulous family and friends for their support. Renée is especially pleased to be “playing” again with Kent and Rafe.
	Eric Hensley (Macduff) Eric, who recently appeared as Giles in The Mousetrap at CPH, graduated from San Francisco State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature and a minor in Theatre Arts. Eric owns a local technology recruiting company in town, but when he is not recruiting he is often found quoting obscure and some-not-so-obscure Shakespearean plays. While in San Francisco, Eric has appeared in TV commercials for Bud Lite, and Honda Motorcycles and has utilized his voice talents for medical and tax training software demos as well as performing various voice characters in Compton’s New Media’s Berenstains’ Bears CD-ROM. Eric is delighted to be a part of the Coronado Playhouse Family.
	Alex Jafek (Son of Macduff) Alex is excited to be in his first play at the Coronado Playhouse, and especially to be in his first Shakespeare play, having enjoyed them as a spectator. He has previously played an orphan a musical production of Oliver, and starred as Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in his school production at Carmel Creek Elementary. Alex is the oldest of 5 boys, all of whom help him memorize lines and give him great support. He is looking forward to taking drama classes in middle school next year.
	Vanessa Jones (Hecate and Gentlewoman), making her American acting debut, has always been involved in theatre since she joined the Saint David Players, a local theatre group in the town of Pencoed, Wales, where her first acting part was the cook in Patrick Hamilton’s Gas Light. When her family moved to Scotland, she joined the Banchory Amateur Dramatic Group and acted in a number of their productions including some of the plays that the group entered in national drama festivals held throughout the UK She particularly enjoyed Stepping Out, a play by Richard Harris and, on the lighter side, became quite well known for her “evil queen” and “wicked witch” characters in children’s pantomimes. Returning to Wales in the mid ‘90s she joined the Bridgend Castle Players theatre group, acted in several national drama festivals, worked as an extra in Welsh TV, and appeared in the 1999 film A Very Annie Mary.
	Jeffrey Lippold (Macbeth and Fight Choreographer) has degrees in theatre, English, and RE. Shakespeare credits include: Taming of the Shrew (received an ACT nomination for Best Lead Male in a Comedy and Coronado Playhouse Best Actor 2001 for Petruchio), Hamlet (won ACT Aubrey Award for Best Lead Male in a Drama for Hamlet), Much Ado About Nothing (received an ACT nomination for Best Lead Male in a Comedy), The Tempest, King Lear, Twelfth Night, As You Like it, Richard II, Henry V, and Romeo and Juliet. Other Coronado Playhouse roles include: John Cristow (The Hollow), Lawrence Redding (Murder at the Vicarage) and Christopher Wren (The Mousetrap-Coronado Playhouse Best Supporting Actor 2000). He also appeared in an Off-Broadway touring show, SWSM, and The Uninvited (for which he received the Audience Award for Best Actor), Alan Ball’s (American Beauty and Six Feet Under) Five Women Wearing the Same Dress and The Secret Garden. As well as several films due for release in the near future. Jeff, ex-Navy Spec Warfare Commando, is a black belt instructor in the art of amkajutsu. This talented actor is a successful real estate agent by day, and can be contacted at www.JeffHelps.US. “Enjoy the Show!”
	Tim Montes (Lennox and Young Siward), a San Diego native, graduated from Cal State San Marcos after studying psychology and is studying to be a teacher. He acted in high school and church plays. This is his first performance at the Coronado Playhouse and he plans to act in more plays at the Playhouse. He enjoys reading, theater, movies, martial arts, and the company of his friends and family and would like to thank his family and members of Grace Church for their love and support.
	Ben Morales (Malcolm), a San Diego native who graduated from SDSU with a major in English literature and a minor in theatre arts, is making his debut at CPH. He also studied theatre at Southwestern College where he earned his Associate of Arts degree and would like to thank his teacher/mentor William Virchis for setting him on his theatre journey and allowing him to grow as an actor. Ben has appeared in Romeo and Juliet (Mercutio), Hamlet (Laertes), Dracula, The Lady’s Not for Burning, Of Mice and Men, Our Town, Death of a Salesman, Much Ado About Nothing (Don John), Twelfth Night (Antonio) and Brighton Beach Memoirs.
	Jillian Pizzuto (First Witch and Dance Choreographer) Jillian is thrilled to be making her debut with the Coronado Playhouse. Currently, you may have seen Jillian as the wacky Maid of Honor, Tina Tubbetini, in Joey and Maria’s Comedy Italian Wedding. Jillian graduated from Iona College in NY with a BA in Speech and minor in Theatre Arts. During her time in NJ/NY, Jillian performed in over 20 plays and musicals in various community theatres. Some of her favorite parts and shows include, Margaret – Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Dr. Livingston – Agnes of God, Jane – Vieux Carre, and Frenchy – Grease. As a choreographer, Jillian has studied dance for the past 15 years, covering ballet, tap, jazz, modern, and middle-eastern. She has been an instructor of each of these styles of dance and choreographed such musical productions as West Side Story, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Into the Woods, and A Little Night Music. Jillian is currently a speech and drama teacher in San Diegoand plans to enter an MFA program for Acting/Theatre. Her goal is to combine her love of Theatre and Education to enlighten and encourage future artists. She would also like to thank her best friend, April, for her constant support, love, patience, and having the guts to leave NY and start over in Sunny California!
	Alex Sandie (King Duncan) is always inspired here in beautiful Coronado. He considers it truly magical to have appeared in Coronado’s (Keith & Mary’s) Shakespeare productions of Taming of the Shrew, Hamlet, The Tempest, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream; he had grrrreat fun as Mr. Paravicini in The Mousetrap (twice) and The Hollow. Other productions include: Vantage Theatre’s, The Importance Of Being Earnest - the musical; Octad-One’s, Hamlet, Merry Wives of Windsor, The Grass Harp & Night Must Fall. He has also been seen in Dracula, Something’s Afoot, The Importance of Being Earnest and Solid Gold Cadillac. For Vanguard Productions, Death Takes a Holiday, The Visit, The Uninvited, Gigi, Kiss Me Kate, and just closed The Wizard of Oz (as Tree #3, “there are no small parts”); C.C.T. & Welk Theatre, a favorite role was Mr. Lundie in Brigadoon. His duties as president and co-founder of the San Diego Shakespeare Society, www.sandiegoshakespearesociety.org , keep him passionate for THEATRE. Born and educated in Edinburgh, Scotland, he loves his “girrrls”, and now grandson Darius and his wee sister, Makaela. Enjoy! Isn’t the theatre FUN and you meet so many nice people.
	William Savage (Doctor) has appeared with 14 San Diego theatre groups. This is his 15th show at Coronado Playhouse. Last seen as the Sea Captain and the Priest in Twelfth Night, other roles include Gudgeon in The Hollow, the Friar in Much Ado About Nothing, the doctor in Everybody Loves Opal, Gremio in The Taming of the Shrew and Dr. Haydock in Murder at the Vicarage, he appeared as the Gravedigger in Hamlet for which he received an ACT nomination. Other memorable roles include: Inherit the Wind (Drummond), King Lear (Gloucester), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Egeus), The Tempest (Gonzalo) As You Like It (Elder Duke), Death of a Salesman (Charley), Of Mice and Men (Candy) and The Deadly Game (The Judge), In addition to acting, William keeps in touch with the mining industry, substitute teaches, and enjoys dancing which includes tap and soft-shoe
	Jo Anne Scott (Lady Macbeth) was last seen as Gloria in Everybody Loves Opal and as Mrs. Calloway in the musical Angels Among Us. In the Shakespeare Festival productions of Hamlet she portrayed Gertrude, The Tempest, Sebastiana & Titania & Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She was Trudy Heyman in Social Security, Felicia in I Hate Hamlet, Janet Mackenzie in A Witness for the Prosecution & Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker. She has won numerous awards for her portrayals as well as for costuming and producing. She currently serves as Board President of the Playhouse and guided the Playhouse through the difficult period of demolition last fall and construction of the Pavilion this spring.
	Claire White (Second Witch) Claire made her acting debut as Madame Voltimand in the San Diego Free Shakespeare Festival production of Hamlet. She returned to Hamlet four years ago as Player Queen. She appeared as Valentine in Twelfth Night at CPH last year. She is frequently found working in the dressing room, box office, or concession stand, and created the women’s headwear for Twelfth Night. She dedicates this performance to husband Martin, her White Knight in shining armor.
	Martin M. White (Ross and the Porter) Mr. White has late appeared on Coronado Playhouse’s stage as Mr. Paravicini in The Mousetrap, Inspector Colquhoun in The Hollow, as Malvolio in Twelfth Night, and as Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing. Elsewhere Martin has appeared as Claudius in Hamlet, Lazar Wolf in Fiddler On The Roof, and Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar. “Tyranny prevails as long as good men do nothing. Times being what they are, Macbeth’s story ‘falls right’.” To my wife, Claire, whose lamp lights my darkness.
	Back to top