NEW YORK – Full casting has been announced for the American Premiere presentation of Alwin Bully’s Caribbean drama McBee, which takes place on Sunday June 23 at 7pm at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center (JPAC) in Jamaica Queens. The performance will be preceded by the complimentary Golden Krust Caribbean Cuisine Reception from 5:30pm.
Yinka Adey, Actor Boy Award nominee Jerry Benzwick, two time Audelco Award nominee Dianne Dixon, Gerard Joseph, Mitzie Pratt and Oniros Film Award winner James Duke Walker complete an accomplished ensemble for the eagerly anticipated event.
They join the previously announced Luke Forbes (Amazon Prime’s Harlem), Denise Hunt (How Stella Got Her Groove Back), Miranda Melhado (Amazon prime’s Amityville Vampire), Emilio Evans (Allblk TV’s Makeup X Breakup) and three time Actor Boy Award winner Karl O’Brian Williams, under the direction of Broadway World Award winner David Heron, who also serves as producer of the event.
Play Based On William Shakespeare’s Macbeth
Bully’s play is based on William Shakespeare’s Macbeth and will be performed on American soil for the first time ever as a staged reading presentation, in tribute to the late playwright himself. It will also be part of New York City’s festivities to mark Caribbean American Heritage Month, celebrated annually in June throughout the USA.
Set on an unnamed Caribbean island in the recent past, McBee follows the story of husband and wife politicians Allan and Alice McBee (Forbes and Hunt, respectively). When on the night of his re-election, McBee encounters three mysterious Rastafarians who inform him that he is destined to become Prime Minister of the nation, he and his ambitious wife begin to forge the bloody plan to make the prediction come true- a plan that results in explosive consequences for themselves and for the country.
Yinka Adey, Dianne Dixon and Gerard Joseph portray the three Rastafarians who reveal the prophecy to McBee that may ultimately change his life forever, while Mitzie Pratt and James Duke Walker both play politicians in the Mcbee’s circle. Jerry Benzwick portrays Peter, the long suffering and often hilarious butler to the McBee household.
Full Cast Members of McBee
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Yinka Adey
Adey appears as Rastafarian Prince Ras, following recent stage appearances in acclaimed productions such as Imbroglio (Great River Shakespeare Festival, Minnesota) and Karl O’Brian Williams’ The Black That I Am (HERE Arts Center, New York). He also performs with Something Positive and is the founder of Monologue Roulette! a creative developmental workshop and showcase series. His film credits include The Beautiful Ghost and the upcoming Caribbean Queen.
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Dianne Dixon
Dianne Dixon will portray Queen Ras, the sole female prophet among the trio of Rastafarians. Dixon is a two time Audelco Award nominee for Excellence in Black Theatre Off Broadway, having been nominated as Best Supporting Actress for the musical Jamaica and for the drama Dinner at The Manse. Her recent stage credits include Mama Decemba for Banana Boat Productions in New York, and Chasing Grave at The Briggs Opera House in Vermont, while on screen she has been seen in the Emmy Award winning television series We Are New York as well as in the films RURI and Victims.
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Gerard Joseph
Gerard Joseph plays the third of the Rastafarian mystics, Bredda D. His performance in McBee marks the LA based actor’s return to the New York stage for the first time in several years. Joseph, like playwright Alwin Bully, is of Dominican descent. He has been seen on stage in such productions as The First Deep Breath, helmed by Broadway director Steve Broadnax, and Blueprints to Freedom, directed by Phylicia Rashad. His screen work includes the feature films Meat Puppet and Dogpark and the television productions Hiding Spot and Fish Priest.
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Jerry Benzwick
Jamaican born Jerry Benzwick is cast as Peter, the faithful and often feisty butler to the McBees. Under Alwin Bully’s direction, Benzwick earned an Actor Boy Award nomination as Jamaica’s Best Actor for Thomas Southerne’s epic drama Oroonoko while still a student at the Jamaica School Of Drama. A former professional rugby player for team Jamaica, he has been seen on stages in Jamaica and the USA in productions including God’s Way and Single Entry and in the films The Last Britons and Nothing But Ghosts.
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Mitzie Pratt
Mitzie Pratt takes on the role of Mabel Angus, fellow politician and close friend of Alice McBee. Pratt’s career spans major roles on stage and screen both in the US and internationally. Her recent screen credits include the 2022 Sundance Grand Jury Prize winning feature Nanny, currently available on Amazon Prime, as well as the original drama series Love My Roomie, also available on Amazon. On stage, she has been seen in New York productions including Dahlia Harris’ God’s Way as well as in her native Jamaica where she has appeared in Feminine Justice and A Song For You among others.
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James Duke Walker
James Duke Walker is cast as Vere Duncan Jr, son and political heir of Prime Minister Vere Duncan Sr (Karl O’Brian Williams). Discovered while working as a unionized construction worker in New York, Walker immediately landed a major role in the Manhattan Repertory Theatre’s production Bro. He has since performed at The Apollo Theatre and at Manhattan Theatre Club’s City Centre Stage in staged reading productions of David Heron’s Against His Will. His television appearances include The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Diabolical. He won the Oniros Film Award for Best Acting Debut for his first film, Roadside Assistance.
The American Premiere production of McBee is presented in association with Kendel Instant Ginger Teas, The True Tribute Organization, IMC Media and Results Promo and Marketing.
Tickets are now available at mcbeetheplay.eventbrite.com.
The Jamaica Performing Arts Center is located at 153-10 Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica NY, 11432.
