Fearless Shakespeare

Jun. 15 – Jul. 10, 2020 

Mon. - Fri. 10:00 am. - 1:00 p.m.

Performance Seamed Jul. 18 at 7:00 p.m.

Ages 15-25 Accepted by Audition Only

  

STORY SYNOPSIS

Macbeth, a brave Scottish general, is told by a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders King Duncan and takes the Scottish throne for himself. He is then wracked with guilt and paranoia.

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AUDITIONS AND REGISTRATION

Please take a video of yourself reciting one of these downloadable speeches from the play. If you have a different Shakespearean speech committed to memory, you may record a video of that instead. The video and your application must be received by June 10, 2020.

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Click the PDF button below for a link to download monologues from the play and the Audition button to submit your video audition/application.

 

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CHARACTER BREAKDOWN

 

Macbeth

A Scottish general and the Thane of Glamis, Macbeth is led to wicked thoughts by the prophecies of the three witches. Macbeth is a brave soldier and a powerful man, but he is easily tempted into murder to fulfill his ambitions to the throne. His response to every problem is violence. Unlike Shakespeare’s great villains, Macbeth is never comfortable in his role as a criminal. He is unable to bear the psychological consequences of his actions.

 

Lady Macbeth

Macbeth’s wife is a deeply ambitious woman who lusts for power and position. She urges her husband to kill King Duncan and seize the crown. After the bloodshed begins, however, Lady Macbeth falls victim to guilt and madness. Her conscience affects her to such an extent that she eventually commits suicide.

 

The Witches

Three “black and midnight hags” plot mischief against Macbeth using charms, spells, and prophecies. Their predictions prompt him to murder Duncan, to order the deaths of Banquo and his son, and to blindly believe in his own immortality. They take a perverse delight in using their knowledge of the future to toy with and destroy human beings.

 

Banquo

This brave and noble general thinks ambitious thoughts, like Macbeth, but they do not translate into action. His children, according to the witches’ prophecy, will inherit the Scottish throne.

 

King Duncan

Duncan is the model of a virtuous, benevolent, and farsighted ruler, but the good King of Scotland is murdered by the ambitious Macbeth.

 

Macduff

A Scottish nobleman hostile to Macbeth’s rise from the start, he eventually leads the crusade to unseat Macbeth.

 

Malcolm

The son of Duncan, Malcolm’s restoration to the throne signals Scotland’s return to order following Macbeth’s reign of terror.

 

Hecate

The goddess of witchcraft, Hecate helps the three witches work their mischief on Macbeth.

 

Fleance

Banquo’s son survives Macbeth’s attempt to murder him.

 

Lennox and Ross

These gentlemen are Scots of noble descent.

 

The Murderers

This group of ruffians is conscripted by Macbeth to murder Banquo, Fleance (whom they fail to kill), and Macduff’s wife and children.

 

Porter

The drunken doorman of Macbeth’s castle provides comic relief in this dark and tragic tale.

 

Lady Macduff

Macduff’s wife, in the scene in her castle, provides our only glimpse of a domestic realm other than that of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. She and her home serve as contrasts to Lady Macbeth and the hellish world of Inverness.

 

Donalbain

Duncan’s son is Malcolm’s younger brother.