Macbeth

Michael Perez (Banquo/Ensemble)
“All? / What, all my pretty chickens and their dam / At one fell swoop?” In Macduff, we have a political and military hero, a man we expect to fit the masculine outline. However, the language Shakespeare gives him tells us that Macduff is so much more. His family is far more important to him than his titles, and the nicknames he gives his kids let us know how precious they are to him. It reminds me of the nicknames my dad had for me while I was growing up!

Lanise Antoine Shelley (Lady Macbeth)
“If we should fail?” / “We fail?” Lady Macbeth’s response to her husband’s fears is, in a way, an inspiration to me about facing my personal fears. Being an actor requires courage daily, whether preparing for an audition or, as I am now, taking on this daunting role. Sometimes I have to remind myself to be brave and just try, that this is exactly what I have wanted for so long. For Lady Macbeth, her destiny is tethered to his—and she loves and believes in him. That’s the motivation that I want to play as Lady Macbeth, as opposed to someone who is inherently evil.

Chris Genebach (Macbeth)
“Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot; full of sound and fury signifying nothing.” Nearly every person who’s experienced despair, regret or hopelessness, can instantly relate to Macbeth’s words here—certainly I can. I learn from this line that I want to treasure each and every moment in my own life as it comes to me, lest I look back with the eyes of regret, guilt, and contempt that I did not live life to the fullest and appreciate what I have and those around me.

Steven Lee Johnson (Malcolm/Fleance)
“Give sorrow words: the grief that does not speak whispers the o’er- fraught heart and bids it break.” My favorite passage that Malcolm speaks is to Macduff after he hears of the murder of his family. When Malcolm loses his father who he loved so much, he says almost nothing back to Macbeth—being in a state of shock and fear. Then, when a friend loses his loved ones, Malcolm gives advice that he was not able to take himself. I think it shows personal growth in the character and a glimpse that he might be a strong king, despite his age.