Macbeth

By William Shakespeare

Directed by Lewis Magruder
MainStage, Gates Abegglen Theatre
15th Annual John D. Yeck Production

October 30-November 2
7:30 p.m.

Sunday, November 3
2:00 p.m.

Macbeth is a play written by William Shakespeare. It is considered one of his darkest and most powerful tragedies in English literature. Set in Scotland, the play dramatizes the corrosive psychological and political effects produced when evil is chosen as a way to fulfill the ambition for power.

Central themes of the play:

Ambition
Corruption of Power
Psychology, i.e. obsession, paranoia and hallucination
Difference between kingship and tyranny

Macbeth’s Undoing in 13 Points:

  1. War is raging in Scotland under King Duncan.
  2. 3 Witches prophecy that Macbeth will become thane of Cawdor and eventually become King of Scotland.
  3. Macbeth’s skepticism turns to bewilderment when King Duncan’s men tell Macbeth that he has become thane of Cawdor.
  4. Macbeth tells his wife Lady Macbeth about the prophecy.  Lady Macbeth wants the kingship for Macbeth and tells him to murder King Duncan.  
  5. Macbeth questions the morality of fulfilling the witches’ prophecy.  Lady Macbeth talks him back into killing Duncan.
  6. Macbeth kills Duncan and blames it on the chamberlains, and Duncan’s children (Malcolm and Donaldbain) flee to England.
  7. Macbeth kills the chamberlains “for their crime”.
  8. Macbeth kills Banquo and attempts to kill his son Fleance out of fear that his heirs will seize the throne. (in this production, Fleance is cast as Banquo's daughter)
  9. Resistance is increasing against Macbeth’s kingship.  So, Macbeth goes to visit the witches and they tell him to beware of Macduff who opposed Macbeth’s accession to the throne.
  10. Macbeth kills Macduff’s wife and children when he finds out that Macduff has left for England to join Duncan’s sons.
  11. Prince Malcolm and Macduff invade Scotland to challenge Macbeth’s rule.
  12. Lady Macbeth kills herself.
  13. Macduff kills and beheads Macbeth and Malcolm becomes the new King of Scotland.

Who was William Shakespeare?

Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, in 1564. Very little is known about his life, but by 1592 he was in London working as an actor and a dramatist. Between about 1590 and 1613, Shakespeare wrote at least 37 plays and collaborated on several more. Many of these plays were very successful both at court and in the public playhouses. In 1613, Shakespeare retired from the theatre and returned to Stratford-upon-Avon. He died and was buried there in 1616.

What did he write?

Shakespeare wrote plays and poems. His plays were comedies, histories and tragedies. His 17 comedies include A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Merry Wives of Windsor. Among his 10 history plays are Henry V and Richard III. The most famous among his 10 tragedies are Hamlet, Othello, and King Lear. Shakespeare’s best-known poems are The Sonnets, first published in 1609.

Cast and Crew

Stage Manager – Carly Mungovan
Assistant Stage Managers – Emma Crowe, Brittani Yawn
Assistant Director – Joshua Horowitz
King Duncan of Scotland – TJ Ganser
Malcolm – Daniel Lees
Donaldbain – Kyle Harris
Macbeth – Hunter Doebereiner
Lady Macbeth – Jennifer Studnicki
Macduff – Adam Josten
Lady Macduff – Hannah Cunningham
Banquo - Matthew Ebersbach
Lennox – Christina Casano
Ross – Theresa Liebhart
Angus – Lizzie Docel
Menteith – Katie Poppe          
Fleance – Caitlyn Shiner
Siward – TJ Ganser
Young Siward - Simon Sedmack
Seyton, Captain, Murderer 1 – JP Horton
Doctor, Porter, Murderer 2 – Caleb Schrimer
Murderer 3 – Spencer Aitken
Old Woman – Megan Haynes
Gentlewoman – Cara Hinh
Three Witches – Meryl Juergens, Tamara Ljubibratic, Andrea Davies
Servant to Macbeth Household – Richard Dent
Additional Attendants, Servants and Messengers – Simon Sedmak, Spencer Aitken, Megan Haynes and Cara Hinh

Apparitions -
Armored Head – TJ Ganser
Bloody Child – Caitlyn Shiner
Crowned Child – Katie Poppe
Kings – Kyle Harris, Lizzie Docel, Megan Haynes, Cara Hinh, Simon Sedmak, Spencer Aitken, Richard Dent, Matt Ebersbach
Soldiers – Kyle Harris, Matt Ebersbach, Spencer Aitken

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