Main Street Theater Presents Student-Driven MACBETH, Now thru 6/23

Summer Shakespeare, now in its third year at Main Street Theater, was created by the Education Department to give teens a chance to encounter, explore, conceptualize, and perform Shakespeare: one particular play, with one particular question or theme is emphasized every year. This year, with a predominantly female ensemble, students will explore the role that gender plays in Macbeth: from the androgynous witches to Lady Macbeth casting off her womanhood to the savior of Scotland being not of "woman-born." Actors will switch characters as well as genders throughout the play.

There are 3 public performances: tonight and Saturday, June 21 and 22, at 8:00pm, and Sunday, June 23 at 3:00pm. Performances are at Main Street Theater - Rice Village, located at 2540 Times Blvd., 77005. For tickets, call 713-524-6706 or log on to mainstreettheater.com. All tickets are $5.00.

Macbeth, the brave war hero and newly appointed Thane of Cawdor, embodies "all that may become a man". But after hearing a strange prophecy his ambition turns to bloody thoughts of murder. His wife Lady Macbeth helps him make his thoughts a reality, but only after calling on dark spirits to remove all in her that is a woman. Macbeth and many of his his friends, foes, and victims define themselves in terms of what makes a man or a woman. What do these definitions look like? How do they help or hurt a country? Are "manly" and "womanly" merely "false faces" that the characters in the play wear to hide?

"In keeping with the Education Dept's mission of creativity, collaboration and student-driven work, we work together as an ensemble," says MST Director of Education Jonathan Gonzalez, also one of the directors of Macbeth. "Students have a say in the editing of the script, roles they play, costume, lighting, and music choices. The first few days are spent exploring, debating, and refining. The fun and scary part is that we don't really know what the play structure will look like on the first day. We sit and read through the highlights, switching parts around, with 4 or 5 different versions of the script, and me with a pencil, sharpie, and highlighter. I talk, share, listen, and take notes. The ensemble dives into the play, and by the third day, we have a solid consensus on where our shape is -- then we spend the next two weeks shading it in. In 21 years of working on Shakespeare professionally, the greatest rewards have come with encountering Shakespeare directly, without pretense or judgment. Summer Shakespeare provides the resources as well as the space for teens to have this direct encounter."

The cast is comprised of 9 Houston-area high school students. Professional artists direct and design all MST Rehearsal &Performance class productions. Jonathan Gonzalez and James Monaghan are the Co-directors. Lauren Evans is the Costume Designer, and Rodney Walsworth is the Set and Properties designer.

Now in its 25th season, MST's Education Department Main Street Theater offers students a performing arts playground where professional theater artists serve as mentors. With an emphasis on creativity and collaboration, we provide hands-on opportunities for students to make an original contribution in all aspects of play production. In support of Main Street Theater's mission, Main Street's Education Department provides a significant resource in the community for education in theater and classical theater for kids, families and educators. Through year-round classes, outreach programs, and camps both on-site and at satellite locations, students develop their voices, bodies, and imaginations in a challenging and fun curriculum, taught by professional artists and arts educators.

Main Street Theater's education programs offer a wide range of classes for students of all skill levels, including individual audition coaching sessions, movement and dance classes, filmmaking classes, high school workshops, and a Summer Performing Arts Camp. The Rehearsal and Performance system includes classes for students at two levels: those who are ready to audition for plays for the public and those who want to hone their skills by producing a play in a "lab" context for family and friends. Classes range from $175 - $500; camps range from $50 - $530. For more information or to register for classes and camps, please call 713-524-9196 x 104 or 103 or log on to mainstreettheater.com.

Jonathan Gonzalez is Director of Education. Lauren Evans is Assistant Director of Education.

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