Double Double Toil and Trouble
Published: September 26, 2022 | Author: Kol Gibson | Read Time: 3 minutes
Southern Utah University’s Department of Theatre, Dance, and Arts Administration is starting off the “spooky season” with William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, directed by Peter Sham and performed in the Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre on September 30 and October 1, 3, 6, 7, & 8 at 8:00 p.m.
Macbeth, one of the Bard’s three best-known works, tells the story of a Scottish warrior, who upon hearing a prophecy that he will become the King of Scotland, stops at nothing to fulfill his destiny. With the help of his wife, Lady Macbeth, the titular character murders the king, ascends to the throne, and begins a reign of terror that inevitably leads to his demise. Macbeth is an exciting and intriguing look at the corrupting influence of power and ambition.
“Macbeth is a fascinating character to embody,” shares Lincoln Edward Stone, the senior Classical Acting major playing the titular role. “Like many of us, he constantly reaches out for tomorrow’s imagined happiness and peace until he finally realizes that all of his tomorrows have run out. Portraying him as a complex and tragically flawed human being has been a humbling journey, and I’m thrilled to experience that journey with our audience nightly.”
While the story of Macbeth is fascinating, part of its appeal comes from popular superstitions regarding the play, including referring to the show with euphemisms like “The Scottish Play” or “Mackers.” Legends and folklore suggest that uttering its title in a theatre can bring about accidents, injuries, and even death. Thankfully, the curse can be broken by exiting the theatre, spinning around three times, spitting, cursing, and then knocking on the theatre door to be readmitted. It is unclear whether this method works at the Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre since the outdoor space has no doors–only gates. Theatergoers are advised to be safe rather than sorry.
SUU’s production of Macbeth will premier to an audience comprised of students participating in the Utah High School Shakespeare Competition on Thursday, September 29 before opening to the general public the following day. Tickets will not be available online, however, they will be available for purchase at the Utah Shakespeare Festival Box Office on the southeast corner of the arts complex or over the phone at (435) 586-7878. For more information about the Theatre, Dance, and Arts Administration program and its offerings in the 2022-23 season, please visit www.suu.edu/arts.
About the College of Performing and Visual Arts
The College of Performing and Visual Arts (CPVA) at Southern Utah University comprises 41 academic programs including liberal arts (BA/BS) and professional (BFA, BM, BMEd) degrees in art, design, dance, filmmaking, music, and theatre. It includes graduate programs in the fields of arts administration (MFA, MA), music education (MME), and music technology (MM). More than 60 full-time faculty and staff are engaged in teaching and mentoring over 900 majors in the College. CPVA presents over 100 performances, lectures, presentations, and exhibitions each year and is affiliated with the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA), Utah Shakespeare Festival, and the Center for Shakespeare Studies. Southern Utah University is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD), National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD), National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), and the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) making SUU the first public university in the state of Utah to be accredited by all four associations. For more information about the College of Performing and Visual Arts, visit www.suu.edu/pva.
Tags: Theater Theatre Arts and Dance Shakespeare College of Performing and Visual Arts