Taking Power: Macbeth, Fascism and the Modern World

Join History Professor Nick Miller and Theatre Professor Gordon Reinhart in conversation about Macbeth and its resonances through modern history. As an exploration of tyranny, guilt and the corruption of power, Shakespeare’s well-known tragedy holds lasting relevance for our world. Learn about the play in a new light, with insights into what we know about Shakespeare’s own political leanings and lessons we can glean from the masterwork to prevent history repeating itself.

The Theatre Program will present Macbeth in the Danny Peterson Theatre April 7-22. You may purchase tickets here.

Nick Miller studied history at Indiana University, where he received his Ph.D. in 1991. He teaches courses on modern European history. Professor Miller’s research focus is the lands of the former Yugoslavia. His publications include articles on Serbian and Croatian history before the First World War and Serbian politics and culture since 1945. His book on the Serbian community of Croatia, entitled Between Nation and State: Serbian Politics in Croatia before the First World War, appeared courtesy of the University of Pittsburgh Press in the fall of 1997. His second book, The Nonconformists: Culture, Politics, and Nationalism in a Serbian Cultural Circle, 1944-1991 was published in 2007 by Central European University Press.  His articles have appeared in The Slavic Review, East European Politics and Societies, Nationalities Papers, Orbis, Problems of Post-Communism, and in edited volumes. Miller has been a recipient of fellowships from the International Research and Exchanges Board, the Andrew Mellon foundation, American Council of Learned Societies, and Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. His research has taken him to former Yugoslavia on many occasions, and he has traveled extensively in Eastern Europe in general. His current research focuses on the population of a region called Žumberak, in northern Croatia: its settlement patterns, immigration and emigration, religious and national identity.

Gordon Reinhart received his MFA in Acting at West Virginia University, and further training in acting and directing at the Hilberry Repertory Theatre at Wayne State University. His regional theatre credits include roles at the Attic Theatre in Detroit, the Strawdog Theatre in Chicago, the Indianapolis Shakespeare Festival, Theatre 40 in Los Angeles, and Company of Fools, Idaho Shakespeare Festival and the Boise Contemporary Theatre, among others. Gordon was nominated 7 times for the Detroit Free Press Theatre Excellence Award for acting, winning once. He was a Guest Star on “ER” and appeared in films such as “Born Yesterday” with John Goodman and “Man Trouble” with Jack Nicholson. He also appeared in “Tattoo: A Love Story”, an independent feature film shot in Boise.

Gordon has directed productions at the Court Theatre and the Northlight Theatre in Chicago, the Attic Theatre and the Hilberry Rep in Detroit, the Great Lakes Theatre Festival in Cleveland, Theatre 40 in Los Angeles, the Riverside Theatre in Florida, Company of Fools in Sun Valley, the Idaho Repertory Theatre, the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, and the Boise Contemporary Theatre among others. The Detroit Free Press nominated 4 of his productions for its Theatre Excellence Award and a production of his was also nominated for one of Chicago’s coveted Joseph Jefferson awards in design. The Artistic Director of the Court Theatre nominated him for a Theatre Communications Group Young Directors Award. He was named in Detroit Magazine’s “Who’s Who of Theatre.” He served as Artistic Director of the Snowmass-Aspen Repertory Theatre, where he staged American premieres and classics. He received a Kennedy Center Silver Medallion Award for his service as the Northwest region’s Playwriting Chair for the Kennedy Center’s American College Theatre Festival.

Gordon is currently a Full Professor of Theatre Arts at Boise State University. He is a member of Actor’s Equity Association (AEA), Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA), and the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC). Most recent projects include directing HAMLET for the Idaho Shakespeare Festival’s “Shakespearience” tour, which was seen by high school students throughout the state of Idaho, and staging Eugene O’Neill’s ANNA CHRISTIE at Kharkiv, Ukraine’s historic Shevchenko Theater. ANNA CHRISTIE was the first joint Ukrainian-American project in the theater’s long history.