ATA Journeyman KEN COUGHLIN has been chosen to direct MACBETH for the American Theatre of Actors’ Shakespeare Summer Fest 2024.

Kaitlyn Clark spoke to Ken about with version of “That Scottish Play”

Congratulations on your upcoming run at ATA! Can you tell us how this came to be?

Late last year, I was speaking with my friend Michael Finn, who I had previously acted with in The Tempest, and directed in Othello. During our talk, he mentioned a desire to play MacBeth. We discussed the possibilities with timing and the viability of him coming up from Atlanta, GA to perform. It seemed possible, so I discussed it  with James Jennings, the Founder and Artistic Director of ATA. We agreed on dates and venue, and so the production proceeded.

Tell us about your career as a director.

My career as a director starts with me as an actor. I performed as Roger in the Wesley St. John play Winter Love. Shortly thereafter I performed as Cliff in the Wesley St. John play Undefeated, where Cliff is pitching the play Winter Love to a studio. The director didn’t find a suitable scene partner for me, and decided to take on the role himself. While that show was running, James Jennings handed me the play Censored, by Wesley St. John, and asked if I’d be interested in directing it. The play opens with the line, “My friend, Jeffrey — a friend of many years — agreed to direct a play of mine.  After the leading man quit he stepped into the role, so now he directs and plays the lead. ”. Life imitating Art.

I have since directed a number of plays by my late friend James Crafford, among them, Rosa Raine, The General, Neptune and Mary, Oxygen, I Think It’s Gonna Rain Today and 10 one act plays that I had promised him I would get mounted. We opened on the first anniversary of his passing.

My first foray into directing Shakespeare was in 2013, when the aforementioned Michael Finn told me that he would like to take on the role of Iago. I went to James Jennings and proposed directing Othello that summer. He agreed and the show went on.

Two of my personal favorite directing assignments were directing my daughter Krista in Steve Silvers’ play Tiger of Greenwich Village, and directing her, and playing her Father in James Crafford’s I Think It’s Gonna Rain Today.

What drew you to this specific play as your next project?

My previously mentioned discussion with Michael Finn, who is playing MacBeth, and my confidence in being able to direct a project of the size and scope.

What do you enjoy about working with ATA?

I met James Jennings in February of 1994. About a month later, he recommended me for a role in Hawk Dreaming, by Frank Casso, who I have also maintained a long friendship with, and last year, directed his play After Zero. In the summer of 1994, James asked me to take on the role of Bedford in Shakespeare’s Henry VI pt I. Through the past 30 years James has been instrumental in my ever expanding skillset, which started as an actor, and has since expanded to include directing, sound design, set design, lighting design, video design and even acting teacher. He has also given me so much freedom with regard to the productions I have asked to do, such as last year’s production of Coni Koepfinger’s Wilber’s New Wife, which I brought to him, and asked if I could put it up.

What is your approach to managing and guiding your cast?

Have you heard the expression Herding Cats? Trying to get 17 actors to commit to a rehearsal schedule, while still earning the money they need to support themselves, is at best, a trial. Aside from that aspect, I try to treat all of my actors with respect, and insist they do the same with their fellow actors. I encourage collaboration, while insisting that all direction come from me. There is an old axiom to the effect that no one can serve two masters. I am also of the belief that if you’re not having fun doing this, you’re doing it wrong.

Has this production posed any specific challenges for you? How did you get through them?

In that we haven’t opened yet, the biggest problem so far has been casting. Casting usually presents two problems. The first is that you are presented with multiple actors who would do well in a particular role, while bringing different energies to the role. There is frequently a desire to want to cast multiple people for the same role, when you know you can only cast one. The other problem is offering the role to an actor, only to find out that scheduling won’t permit them to accept. Then you’re in a frenzy to replace the role you thought you had locked up. It’s even worse when an emergency pops up after you have been cast and started rehearsals. All of these things have happened on this production, but in the end, I think I have a great cast who will work well together and put on wonderful performances for the audiences.

What’s next for you?

One of the roles I have been able to expand into at ATA is the role of Playwright. This October I will be presenting 2 new plays that I have written, The Next Audition and Hang Up Your Cleats. I will direct The Next Audition, which will star good friends and excellent actors Valerie O’Hara and Thomas J. Kane, who I have known since 1962. I will also play a small non-speaking role in the play. The reason for my playing that role will become clear when you see it. My dear friend Laurie Rae Waugh will be directing Hang Up Your Cleats.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your show?

Come see the show. The actors are working very hard to present a show that will be well worth seeing.

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