Marionette 'Macbeth' Begins at the New Victory, April 20

The acclaimed Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) will join forces with Italy's world-renowned marionette company, Colla Marionette Company (founded in 1835), to present a new production of Shakespeare's classic tragedy Macbeth.  The show will run from April 20 through April 29 at the New Victory Theatre.

"With a full cast of three-foot-tall marionettes, designed by master Italian craftsmen and manipulated by expert puppeteers, Macbeth's battle scenes will be filled with armies of horses and soldiers, fog and bats. The witches' cauldron will steam and Banquo's ghost will ooze blood. The puppets will be voiced by a commanding cast of CST actors, seated in full view of the audience," state press materials.

"Presenting an abridged version of Shakespeare's chronicle, this gruesome tale begins in a shadowy cave, spreads through the corridors of Dunsinane Castle and erupts onto the battlefield. An international collaboration of direction and design, CST and Italy's premier puppet masters create an innovative and unique adaptation of one of the world's most famous tragedies."

The performance schedule is: Friday, April 20 7:00 pm; Saturday, April 21 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm; Sunday, April 22 12:00 pm and 5:00 pm; Thursday, April 26 7:00 pm; Friday, April 27 7:00 pm; Saturday, April 28 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm; and Sunday, April 29 12:00 pm and 5:00 pm.

On Tuesday, April 17 at 6 pm, the Italian Cultural Institute (686 Park Avenue) will present a Macbeth press conference, featuring Claudio Angelini, director of the Italian Cultural Institute; Carlo Colla III, Eugenio Monti Colla, and Piero Corbella of the Colla Marionette Company; and representatives from the New Victory Theater. There will be a brief presentation about this innovative adaptation, followed by a Q&A session and refreshments. RSVP to 212-879-4242, x365.

Visit www.newvictory.org for tickets and more information.