Macbeth Program Notes
Director’s Notes
“What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won.”
-Duncan Act 1 Scene2
We were two weeks into rehearsal when COVID-19 postponed our production for 6 months. Six months later and theatres around the world from Broadway to KC remain closed. So Macbeth the podcast came to life. Transferring Shakespeare from the stage to the ears of our listeners was a surprisingly easier task than I had imagined. A lot of Shakespeare actor training goes into speaking the text for audience members to ‘hear’ the words. Shakespeare metaphors had to cut through the open aired Globe Theatre and concoct the world of the play in his audience’s imagination. The atmosphere of Macbeth is evoked with his repetition of words like blood, night and time. There are also witches’ spells and Lady Macbeth’s invocation to commit evil acts to conjure up a world of power lust. Like his earlier counterpart Richard III, Macbeth pursues power with a relentless ambition. And once Macbeth gains the throne through nefarious means he is plagued by inner demons that convince him that others are planning equally devious means to take the crown from him. I believe that Macbeth’s downfall is not so much the witches’ prophecy but rather his own tormented psychology that swallows his consciousness and raises his hubris to commit more murder. Macbeth is a taut murder mystery where the audience knows ‘who dunnit’ and the rest of the characters catching up to Macbeth’s ruthless murders. Shakespeare allows you the listener inside the “heat-oppressed brain” of one of his darkest villains. We hope you enjoy Kansas Theatre Works production of Macbeth.
David Mackay, Director
Follow along with the script
Episode Guide--A summary of scenes
Cast Biographies
Cast
DUNCAN, king of Scotland | Jacob Edelman-Dolan |
MALCOM, his son | Michael Duncan |
DONALBAIN, his son | Ian Boyd-Duncan |
MACBETH | Cole Rockhold |
BANQUO | Brett Broadbent |
MACDUFF, Nobleman of Scottland | Sterling Oliver |
LENNOX | Sam Neel |
ROSS | Chelsea Turner |
ANGUS | Morgan Boyer |
SEYTON, an officer attending | Victor Romo |
A DOCTOR | Jacob Edelman-Dolan |
A PORTER | Morgan Boyer |
AN OLD MAN | Jacob Edelman-Dolan |
THREE MURDERERS | Victor Romo as Seyton |
Ian Boyd-Duncan | |
Zachary Smalley | |
CAPTAIN | Sam Neel |
MESSENGER | Karly Breshears |
SOLDIER | Zachary Smalley |
LADY MACBETH | Kaitllyn Burns |
LADY MACDUFF | Brooke Griggs |
SON of Lady Macduff and Macduff | Jackson Welsh |
FLEANCE son of Banquo | Brooke Griggs |
A GENTLEWOMAN attending Lady Macbeth | Karly Breshears |
A GENTLEWOMAN attending Lady Macduff | Karly Breshears |
WITCHES | Lauren Taylor |
Emma Price | |
Megan McGehee | |
SERVANTS, SOLDIERS, and ATTENDANTS | Company |
STAGE DIRECTIONS | Chelsea Turner |
Stage Manager: Addie Price
Assistant Stage Manager: Logan Peralez
Production Team:
Podcast Hosts:
Additional podcast voices;
Nikela Reed
Ana Vasquez