After our showing of Romeo and Juliet in spring 2005 for our second annual Shakespeare in the schools program, we were asked by some local schools to put together a second production and also could be geared toward 6-8 graders. In the spirit of Halloween seaon, we revived Macbeth. Blood, swordfights, ghosts and witches are always a potent combination for our younger audiences and made for some interesting talk backs after the show. All pictures were taken at the Landmark Lowe's Theater, an movie palace built in Jersey City built in 1929.
Performance Locations
Ercel Webb Middle School, Jersey City, NJOctober 19
Lowes Jersey Theater, Jersey City, NJOctober 20
St. Mary's High School, Jersey City, NJ October 21
To view past seasons click onthe "Past Productions" tab on the side menue
The three weird sisters (Kristin Leim, Nancy Irene Kelly, and Rachel Stephan) meet on the outskirts of a battle between Scotland and Norway and prepare to meet Macbeth to deliver their prophetic news.
Macbeth (Stephen Kuhel) is told by the witches that he will become king and his friend Banquo will father a line of kings. Above, given a hero's welcome, he is honored by King Duncan (Lee Soloman) but holds strange thought of what the prophecies mean.
Lady Macbeth (Amy Jackson) upon receiving news of the witches' prophecies takes the initiative to coax her relutctant husband (Stephen Kuhel) into killing the king
King Duncan (Lee Soloman) and his son Malcom (Andrew Valins) are happily received by a "smiling" Lady Macbeth in a spirit of family and fellowship with indication of the danger to come.
Macbeth (Stephen Kuhel) kills Duncan and returns to his wife crazed and hearing voices. The deed done his wonders if anything can was the stain of the act away.
WIth Duncan's death blamed on his servants and his children fleeing the country, Macbeth (Stephen Kuhel) ascends the throne. With one prophecy fulfilled Macbeth turns to the second of his friend Banquo fathering children that will be kings. To stop this from happening he hires several assassins with Grudges against Banquo to kill him and his son. Above at a banquet with his nobles, Macbeth is told by the first Murderer (Lee Soloman) that Banquo has been killed but his son escaped.
Double, double, toil and trouble. The witches (Nancy Irene Kelly, Rachel Stephan and Kristin Leim) prepare for the arrival of Macbeth who after seeing the ghost of Banquo is coming to obtain more direction on what to do. He is informed that he should beware the lord Macduff and none of woman born may harm him
Heeding the witches advice, Macbeth sends his killers to kil Macduff and his family Macduff leaves the country but his family is not so lucky. Above, the second murderer (Julio Pena) kills and drags away Macduff's child (Rebecca Overholt)
Arriving with an army of English allies and Scottish expatriots Macduff (Patrick Glenn) seeks to avenge his family's murder. Above, (Stephen Kuhel) in a moment of defeat, Macbeth repeats the witches' prophecy that none of woman born can harm him. Macduff reveals that he was ripped from his mother womb striking fear into Macbeth that eventually leads to his death.
