Set in gritty Prohibition-era New Orleans, this production features Macbeth as the owner of a seedy nightclub and member of a powerful underworld crime syndicate. Beloved by local kingpin Duncan for his loyalty and fighting prowess, Macbeth’s thirst for power gets the better of him upon hearing the ominous premonitions of three mysterious ladies of the night.

This production of Shakespeare’s classic tale of ruthless ambition features brutal street brawls, baseball-bat wielding thugs, jazz music, and clairvoyant prostitutes. The tagline for the play is: “Something wicked this way comes. Dirty. Sexy. Fun.”

Upon developing the concept for this summer’s production, director Elizabeth Helman moved the Shakespeare play from its original Scottish locale to 1920s Louisiana.

“In my close readings of the play, I was struck by the notion that Macbeth as a character is a profoundly flawed human being from the start,” she said. “Rather than being a play about a good man’s fall from grace, this is a play about a morally questionable man discovering his own fragile humanity a little too late.”

Inspired by the films of Quentin Tarantino and Martin Scorsese, Helman intends this production to be a violent, bloody thrill-ride balancing the brutality and tawdry glamour of the era with some of Shakespeare’s most profoundly moving verses about life and death.

“Macbeth is a fascinating character to take apart; he’s a ruthless killer with the soul of a philosopher,” she said.

To get a behind-the-scenes look at Macbeth in the Quad, see http://osutheatreplays.blogspot.com/. You can also become a fan of Bard in the Quad on Facebook.

The cast features Matt Holland (Corvallis) as Macbeth, Erin Cunningham (Corvallis) as Lady Macbeth, Andrew Atkinson (Medford) as Banquo, Alexander Johnston (Forest Grove) as Donalbain, McKenzie Miller (La Grande) as Fleance/Macduff’s Daughter, Dan Mueller (Houston) as Macduff, Jordyn Patton (San Diego) as Lady Macduff, Rowan Russell (San Francisco) as Ross, Robert LaFever (Rogue River) as Malcolm, Charles Lind (Corvallis) as Duncan/Porter, and Jamie Bilderback (Wilsonville), Chiaki Horan (Tokyo) and Kevin McIntosh (Beaverton) as the Weird Sisters.

Tickets prices are $14 general admission, $10 students/seniors, $7 for OSU students and are available online at www.bardinthequad.org or through the OSU Theatre box office  at 541-737-2784.

This play contains violent and adult subject matter that may not be suitable for all viewers. No seating is provided for the show and there are no reserved seating areas. Audiences are encouraged to bring blankets, low lawn chairs, or other forms of seating.

From left, Olivia, played by Erin Cunningham and Maria, played by Lacey Anna Nolan, discuss complicated matters in Twelfth Night. (contributed photo)

Audience members are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chairs since seating is not provided.
This popular comedy features the story of Viola, a young maiden washed ashore after a tragic shipwreck. Wishing to protect her virtue, Viola disguises herself as a boy and joins the service of the lovelorn Duke Orsino. Sparks fly and a comic love triangle develops when Viola is asked to woo the melancholy Olivia on behalf of Orsino. Meanwhile, the other members of Olivia’s household concoct their own schemes and love matches.

The play features swordplay, music, mistaken identities, clever clowns, and love lost and found again – all set against the backdrop of the mysterious country of Illyria. Director Elizabeth Helman said this story is perfect for Bard in the Quad’s unique outdoor setting.

“Twelfth Night is a play about excess and intensely passionate characters who fall in and out of love quickly and our concept for this production emphasizes Illyria as a world of extremes,” she said. “A large, outdoor venue allows us to create a very playful and theatrical world for these over-the-top characters to exist.”

The cast features Michael Pierson Bishop as Fabian, Matt Bradley as Malvolio, Jordan Brinck as Curio, Ian Burns as Antonio, Erin Cunningham as Olivia, Troy Eggers as Sebastian, Matt Holland as Feste, Kimberly Holling as Viola, Eric Nepom as Orsino, Jeff Nichols as Sir Andrew, Lacey Nolan as Maria, and Nick Sheler as Sir Toby.

Tickets are on sale now online at www.oregonstate.edu/dept/theatre  and are available at a discounted price until July 20. The “Early Bard” prices are $10, $8 students and seniors (ages 55 and older) and $5 for OSU students.

Tickets will be available at the Memorial Union office or by phone starting July 20. Call: 541-737-2784. Ticket prices will then be $14 for adults, $10 for students and seniors, and $7 for OSU students.

~ Angela Yeager