This year, one of the big performances being put on by EGR’s drama department is the Shakespearean piece “Macbeth.” Macbeth will take place from Nov. 8 to Nov. 10, located at the East Grand Rapids Performing Arts Center. There will be a total of four performances, so everyone should get out and see some of East’s most talented performers!

Two of the main leads in the play are Drew Johnston ‘19, who plays Macbeth, and Jane Hoffman ‘20, who plays Lady Macbeth. Almost all aspects of the schools production of Macbeth are the same as Shakespeare’s original play, besides the fact that some parts initially played by men will be played by women.

“We do have a few characters who are typically cast as males, but because we want to include more females, even though that wasn’t the time period, we will have ladies who are lords or war generals,” said Haleigh Colombo ‘20.  

Macbeth has been said to have a dark and twisted plot without many comedic points.  Hoffman described the play as “very dark and psychologically emotional, none of characters are inherently evil, although all these horrible things happen, showing that this is what can happen when we give into the id, the deepest, most selfish desires – the ambition.”

Some of the cast’s favorite scenes include the those where fights take place as there are several sword fights throughout the play.

“I personally like the scene where I beat somebody up with a lantern, all of the [scenes with] witches are really good,” Colombo said.  “I really love The Banquet, that’s a good scene. It’s a scene where Macbeth is seeing the ghost of Banquo, who…” (spoiler alert!) “it’s where we first really see a big shift in a lot of characters,” Hoffman said.

“This show is full of magic and mystery, and it is filled with epic fight scenes” said Jordan Plumstead ‘20, who plays Graymalkin, the Witch Goddess’ Head Sprite and a mystery murderer.  “My favorite scene is definitely the fight between Macduff and Macbeth. Matt[hew Langley, who plays Macduff], and Drew do an amazing job acting the scene out and it’s so good” said Plumstead.

To see how this production plays out, pun intended, come join some of East’s finest at one of the Macbeth performances this November.