Hosted by the Department of Theatre and Dance, the Shakespearian tragedy, Macbeth, will run Feb. 19 through Feb. 21 and Feb. 26 through Feb. 28 in the University of Memphis main stage theatre.
Macbeth is about a man whose life goes into chaos based on a prophecy. This will be the first Shakespearean play Jung Han Kim, a 30-year old 3rd year MFA student in the Department of Theater and Dance, will be directing. Kim has directed seven plays at the university.
“I decided to direct Macbeth because it had enough imagination and visualization,” Kim said. “This is also a beast of a play. I wanted to try new things.”
In plays, Kim has his own creative style.
“My style depends on the play,” Kim said. “I try to understand what is the purpose of the play and analyze it. In Macbeth, there are three witches. I decided to have 15 witches both male and female. Shakespeare wanted to embrace spirit and illusion and since Macbeth is having illusions. It does not have to be three.”
Macbeth is one of three plays that the department produces this semester.
Any student can sign up to try out for plays but theatre students must audition for six shows. After the audition, the director will call back after a few days and decide who will preform in the play.
Students rehearse for one day each week for about five weeks before the play.
“We learn the Shakespearean text, fight swords, and be in shape for the play,” Jon Castro, a 22-year-old theatre performance major, said.
Castro will preform as the lead Macbeth in the play.
“I wanted to be in Macbeth for awhile,” Castro said. “It was my dream role. Macbeth is my favorite play that I read in high school. I researched the play, as well. I also wanted to work with Kim, the director.”
Castro has done multiple plays, but two Shakespearean plays Macbeth and the Comedy of Errors, which is a slapstick comedy about two identical twins separated at birth.
Castro’s theatre interest began in high school from doing forensics competitions in high school, where he did debating and acting. He also played baseball in high school, but was injured. From there, Castro decided to act from my love the acting competitions.
“When I went to the University of Memphis, I fell in love with the stage from preforming in the show ‘Call Me Theirs,’” Castro said. “In theatre, I can put my all in something, be something and be creative in front of people. I am happiest on stage.”
Macbeth is known for being cursed and bad things happen. However, nothing happened at the play, according to Kim.
“I want people know that we took risks on stage,” Kim said. “People should see and experience something new and ends up being something new. We are hungry for people to join us.”
The next two plays that the department will have are “Momentum” in the Rose Theatre April 10 through 12 and “Blues for Alabama Sky” in the Mainstage Theatre April 16 through 18 and April 23 through 25.
