The lights dim, the curtain opens, and the audience is silenced. A trio of witches appear as the viewers are pulled into William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. This year, the theater department will produce its first-ever Shakespearean play, the story of Macbeth, a Scottish general who receives a prophecy that he will one day become king of Scotland, and his fight to the title.

“We chose Macbeth because we felt we had the acting strength to perform a Shakespearean play,” theater director Grant Goble said. “Macbeth is a play read in English class, so we thought we could connect what students learn in English to the theatrical world. Students will get the opportunity to see what they read come to life on stage.”

Many preparations have been made beforehand to make sure the final product lives up to its name.

“We have researched concepts extensively to help us create a unified vision of the play,” Goble said. “We have also done a lot of table work with the content of the play itself.”

Macbeth is played by junior Keil Gerard, Lady Macbeth is played by senior Kate Baumli and junior Chris Clark is Macduff, a nobleman who is opposed to Macbeth’s rise to the throne.

“I think this is going to be a show worth seeing because our tech theater department is amazing,” Gerard said. “Our set has five different levels, a ten foot platform and lots of other features. Our actors this year are also very talented. We have a great group of dedicated, passionate, award-winning actors who will make this show great.”

Among those actors is junior Christy Lamka, who plays a murderer as well as a witch. “Shakespeare is often difficult for people to understand,” Lamka said. “It’s nice to be able to bring it to life and help people really be able to enjoy Shakespeare.”

The language used in any Shakespearean play is old English and is very different from modern day English, which can sometimes make the play hard to keep up with. Along with this, Macbeth comes with numerous taboos that keep its actors and crew superstitious.

“Macbeth is a cursed play,” Gerard said. “If you talk about it in a theater when you’re not performing it, it’s bad luck.”

The remedy for this curse is to leave the room, close the door, turn around three times, spit, knock on the door and ask to be let back inside. Another rumored curse is that the play itself brings bad luck to the cast and crew. Other than this, Macbeth is considered to be a timeless tragedy that is sure to please its audience.

“This play is going to be different not only because of our sets, but also because it is a Shakespearean piece,” Gerard said. “Our actors, techies and directors believe this show will be great and when everyone actually believes that it’s going to be awesome, there are no limits on what the show can become.”

Opening Night: October 24 at 7:00 p.m. in the Plano West Auditorium

Other Showings: October 25 & 26

Tickets: Students – $8 Adults – $10