About Us
Lily Narbonne & Justin Genna are the Founding Artistic Directors of Lanes Coven. They began their theater careers as actors, and have a national network of collaborators. Trained at the MFA Acting Program at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, CA, they were leaders in the demanding program, with diligent work ethics, professionalism, diverse skill sets, & provocative scene work.
Before they met, Justin was a professional ballet dancer, and Lily worked in both classical & experimental acting, so the diverse talents they bring to the table create the Lanes Coven aesthetic, as they craft comprehensive, visceral theater that is transformational and risky.
Mission
Lanes Coven is actor-driven. Our mission as a theater company is to produce Shakespeare and classical plays outdoors, accessible to the Cape Ann community and its visitors. We are committed to performing outdoors because, after an audience, nature is a Shakespeare Actor's best tool, and a theater company's greatest humility; with every word we speak, we honor what is larger than us.
We reimagine classics with language clarity, dance theater, and rock & roll lighting, so they are understandable and entertaining for all. We are committed to low-cost experiences everyone can enjoy.
Cape Ann is inspirational—geographically, historically, and culturally. Artists abound. And the community is hungry, supportive, and dedicated. Perfect ingredients to make theater.
Lily was invited to write about Lanes Coven for Shakespeare Theatre Association
Work With Us
2024 summer season: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed by Lily Narbonne July 12th - July 28th and The Servant of Two Masters directed by TBA August 23rd - Sept 8th.
The entire season outside dates, from first rehearsal of first show, to strike of second show — JUNE 25th - SEPT 9th!
Interns
In an ever-changing theater industry, Lanes Coven believes that artists should be well-rounded and know how to do many jobs in the theater.
College Age Educational Acting Intern Submissions are now CLOSED! If selected, you will be notified in Late March with interview/further audition requirements
STILL SEEKING: High School Summer Production Interns. Please note, unpaid, but volunteer hours available! Production Interns - Can include Directing, Arts Administration. Otherwise, daily duties include Management, Load-In (must be able to lift and carry), assisting administratively, sourcing for in-budget props on Amazon or locally (Second Glance), and helping with Front-Of-House once a show is open. Will receive mentorship via close collaboration with professionals.
COLLEGE ACTING INTERNS: Locals have priority. Acting positions & Production positions are available. **Must be industrious, and self-motivated within a non-traditional, visionary environment. Please note - unpaid internship. College Credit available!
Acting Interns - WILL PERFORM in one or both of the 2024 summer season productions. Lanes Coven is interested in self-motivated thespians who are curious about all the other jobs it takes to make theater happen, in addition to the craft of acting. Will be expected to assist Lily, Justin and Stage Management with simple daily theater tasks. Will receive mentorship (gain acting tools vocally & physically) via close collaboration (rehearsal, warm-ups, and performance) with professionals.
Auditions
At this time, auditions are complete! Thank you actors! Tara, our monitor, our readers Eryn, Malachi & Mia, and thank you MAGMA!
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
Seeking the following roles: (All other roles are cast) Seeking Actors of all genders and ethnicities
FLUTE (Rude Mechanical) / MUSTARDSEED (fairy): Male Identifying, 18-40s. Flute is the “youngest” of the Mechanicals, a bellows-mender by trade, an inexperienced actor, and very apprehensive about playing a girl (Thisbe) in the play within the play. Doubles as COBWEB, strong, and playful, protective of Titania, mistrustful of Oberon and Puck. NOTE: There’s potential for physical intimacy with this role.
SNUG (Rude Mechanical) / COBWEB (Fairy): Any Gender, 18 and up. Snug is a cabinet maker, very shy, and an inexperienced actor, does not want to frighten the audience with their impersonation of a lion in “Pyramus and Thisbe.” As Peaceblossom: strong, and playful, protective of Titania; mistrustful of Oberon and Puck. Strong skills in Shakespeare and physical acting, with the potential for singing.
THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS
Seeking the following roles. All other roles are pre-cast. Seeking Actors of all genders and ethnicities, those who are great at the style of commedia del arte, and those with stage combat experience are encouraged to audition.
CLARICE - 20s-30s. Very impassioned! Pantalone's Daughter and in love with Silvio but promised to Federigo Rasponi (who Beatrice is disguised as). The “innamorati” type, in love with love, and in love with herself, capable of legato elegant and smooth movement, and then switching to the opposite at a moments notice NOTE: This archetype is unmasked. CLICK HERE FOR SIDES
Self Tape Instructions
Please make sure you are well Lit! Use a ring-light if you have one, and as neutral a background as possible, fancy backgrounds aren’t necessary, but appreciated if you have it. If you don’t have a ring light make sure to film during the day
Please frame your video from the waist up. Don’t cut off the top of your head.
Please include an introduction, aka a “slate.” Introduce yourself with your name, preferred pronouns if you like, or anything else you would like to share about your identity; your height, confirm whether you are willing to work as a local hire, confirm whether you’re union or not
Upload the video to Vimeo, Youtube, GoogleDrive or WeTransfer. If you’ve made the video private, make sure that you give us the password.
Attach your headshot and resume in the email. Email to lanescovencasting@gmail.com
Resident Artists of Lanes Coven
Eryn O’Sullivan
With Lanes Coven: Gwendolyn in The Importance of Being Earnest, and Mercutio in Romeo & Juliet. Witch 1/Malcomb/Murderer 1 in Macbeth; and Rosalind etc in As You Like It: Reading & Listening Party.
Eryn is an actor, artist and audiobook narrator originally from Georgia, now living in Gloucester. She is a graduate of Boston University’s College of Fine Arts, where she majored in Acting, as well as the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. She has played Bianca in Taming of the Shrew (National Players Tour), Valerie in The Weir, and Buckingham in Richard III. In 2018, she formed an all-female, multi-disciplinary theatre company called Don, Pat & Tom, and together they brought their inaugural show, “leaves,” to Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. Their current project, a film entitled “Epinephrine,” is in pre-production.
Caroline Harvey (they/them)
With Lanes Coven: Paris/Escalus in Romeo & Juliet, Sonnet/Education Workshop at Lanesville Community Center. Role of Maige in the world premier of Monkey by Rachel Greenhoe at Gloucester Stage.
Passionate about telling stories of creative survival, Caroline is a performance artist, educator, and activist. Caroline is proud to be the Co-Owner of Dogtown Books in Gloucester, MA and recently taught a Poetry Master Class at the Cape Ann Museum. SELECT PERFORMANCES: Season 5 of HBO’s “Def Poetry;” Keynote at The World Parks Congress in Sydney, AU; Poetry Performances at the US Embassy in Serbia; and multi-genre work presented within venues at Berklee College of Music, where they were a Professor for over 10 years. Caroline is honored to have shared stages with Alicia Keys, Livingston Taylor, Melissa Ferrick, Mary Lambert, Danez Smith, and Yasiin Bey (Mos Def), and has writing published in Gertrude Press, The Cantab Poetry Anthology, The Legendary, and The Charles River Review, among many others. Caroline is neurodivergent & nonbinary, a collector of skulls & stones, and lives with their husband Lucas and a menagerie of animals in the Essex woods. BFA Theater, BU’s School of Theatre; MA World Arts & Cultures, UCLA.
Michael McNamara
With Lanes Coven: Reverend Chaucible in The Importance of Being Earnest. Duncan/Porter/Siward in Macbeth.
Michael McNamara has been seen on local area stages for over forty years as an actor, producer and director. He founded several community groups, of which Fishtown Players was the latest. In 2019 he produced and acted in Mauritius at the Rogers Street Theater. Recent credits incle Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman (Mugford Street Players), Port Authority, The Weir, Antigone, and The Seafarer. Michael is a resident of Gloucester, and was born in Rockport.
Max McNamara
With Lanes Coven: Lane/Merriman in The Importance of Being Earnest, and Benvolio in Romeo & Juliet. Banquo/Murderer 3/Young Siward in Macbeth; Gus in The Dumb Waiter; 21 Plays, and Lucentio in Taming of the Shrew.
Max is originally from, and currently resides here in Gloucester. Max is a Film, TV, and stage actor and has worked in Los Angeles, NYC, Boston and Austin, Texas. He is a proud member of Fishtown Players, with whom he produced and acted in Mauritius at the Rogers Street Theatre, and Port Authority. Film/TV: Richard Linklater’s “Boyhood,” “Equalizer 2” (Columbia Pictures), “The Possession of Hannah Grace” (Screen Gems) and “The Good Cop” (Netflix) among others.