“From Castle to Courage”: Middleburg Native Returns Home to Share

MIDDLEBURG, VA — Ross MacKenzie has always believed in the power of storytelling. After more than three decades on international stages, the Middleburg-born actor, director, and cofounder of Fusion returns home with “From Castle to Courage,” an original Japanese samurai drama. The play debuts at The Hill School on June 20 and 21, 2025.

Tickets are free, but seating is limited and must be reserved in advance at foxtaletheaterproductions.com.

MacKenzie, who spent eight formative years at The Hill School, calls the opportunity “surreal.”

“Some of my fondest childhood memories were here,” MacKenzie said. “The Hill School felt like a second home — and now I get to share a story that means so much to me on that very same stage.”

With a career spanning more than 25 years across the U.S., U.K., and Japan, MacKenzie is a seasoned performer and educator. He has taught at the Stella Adler Academy of Acting & Theatre of Arts in Hollywood and directed or performed in productions such as “King Lear,” “Cymbeline,” “Measure for Measure,” and “The Misanthrope.” He is known for directing bilingual adaptations in Japan and the U.S., including “Macbeth,” “A Doll’s House,” and “Romeo & Juliet.”

“From Castle to Courage” — or “Shiro kara Yuuki” in Japanese — is a fusion of classical Japanese storytelling and contemporary theater. Set in a surreal, timeless Japan where feudal honor clashes with modern instincts, the story follows Princess Narisa as she slips away from the castle for a night of freedom. When she is recognized by two dishonorable samurai and targeted for ransom, what unfolds is not a battle between kingdoms, but a war within.

The cast brings together Hollywood-caliber talent and authentic Japanese tradition, including Yasuko Kuramitsu, an award-winning screenwriter known for Netflix’s “Alice in Borderland”; Hiro Matsunaga, recognized for his roles in “Lil Tokyo Reporter” and “Survivors”; Candice Mari Sakamoto, whose credits include “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Never Have I Ever,” “The Rookie,” and “Bullet Train”; Masa Kanome, leader of Burai Productions and a former professional tennis player; Taishi Tamaki, known from “Terrace House: Aloha State” and recognized for his sword-fighting and screen presence; Narisa Suzuki, with appearances in “Snowfall,” “Days of Our Lives,” “The Gunslingers,” and “Prisoners of the Ghostland”; and Yuwi Kim, a Tokyo-born actress and dancer.

This theatrical event merges ancestral strength with modern artistry in Virginia’s countryside. “From Castle to Courage” will be performed at the Sheila C. Johnson Performing Arts Center at The Hill School in Middleburg, Virginia, on June 20 and 21 at 7 p.m. Reserve free seats at foxtaletheaterproductions.com. Donations to support The Hill School are welcome.

Photos courtesy of Foxtale Theater Productions. 

Posted on: May 28, 2025