Popularly known as “The Scottish Play,” William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a dark and gripping tragedy that explores ambition, fate, guilt, and the corrupting power of unchecked desire. In this production, directed by John DiAntonio, the story unfolds in medieval Scotland (no kilts here!) and follows the rise and moral descent of a once-noble warrior, Macbeth.
After witnessing the tragic loss of Macbeth’s child, the audience is launched into a dynamic choreographed battle, staged by choreographer Trey Plutnicki and fight director Geoffrey Kent. Macbeth (Walter Kmiec), a fearless fighter, helps secure victory for King Duncan (Chris Mixon). On their way back from the battlefield, Macbeth and his friend Banquo (Chauncy Thomas) encounter three mysterious witches (Evelyn Carol Case, Kayland Jordan, and Kat Lee). Costume designer Lauren Roark has created distinct and ethereal looks for each witch. These eerie figures greet Macbeth with three titles: Thane of Glamis (which he already is), Thane of Cawdor (which he has not yet been named), and future King of Scotland (which he has a hard time imagining how it will come to pass). When asked, they offer Banquo a cryptic prophecy: though he will never be king, his descendants will inherit the throne.
Soon after, part of the prophecy is fulfilled when Macbeth is named Thane of Cawdor by King Duncan as a reward for his bravery. This sudden confirmation of the witches’ words ignites a dangerous ambition in Macbeth. Encouraged by the promise of future power and stirred further by his wife, Lady Macbeth (Cassandra Bissell), he contemplates the unthinkable: murdering the king to take the crown for himself. Last season playing Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing, Walter Kmiec has demonstrated a sharp gift for comedic timing and delivery—but in Macbeth, he proves he’s just as skilled at conveying darker, more complex emotions. Likewise, Cassandra Bissell returns for another season and deftly creates a character dark enough to match Macbeth’s depths. It is a treat to watch the chemistry between stage husband and wife.
When King Duncan visits Macbeth’s castle, Lady Macbeth urges her hesitant husband to kill the king while he sleeps. Macbeth follows through with the murder, but the act immediately torments him with guilt and fear. To cover their crime, Macbeth frames Duncan’s guards, and the kingdom is thrown into chaos. Duncan’s sons, Malcolm (Christopher Joel Onken) and Donalbain (Gabriel W. Elmore), flee the country—Malcolm to England and Donalbain to Ireland—fearing they may be next. Their flight, however, makes them appear suspicious to others and clears the path for Macbeth to seize the throne.
Now king, Macbeth becomes obsessed with securing his power and eliminating perceived threats. He recalls the witches’ prophecy about Banquo’s descendants and arranges to have Banquo and his son, Fleance (Amara Webb), murdered. Though Banquo is killed, Fleance escapes, deepening Macbeth’s paranoia and sense of instability.
Meanwhile, another nobleman, Macduff (Lavour Addison), begins to question Macbeth’s sudden rise and erratic behavior. Unlike others who flatter Macbeth out of fear or loyalty, Macduff refuses to attend Macbeth’s coronation and travels to England to seek help in restoring rightful leadership to Scotland. In retaliation, Macbeth sends men (including Blake Henri) to Macduff’s castle, brutally killing Macduff’s wife (Kathryn Tkel) and children (Jacob C. Rosengren and Benjamin E. Rosengren) in his absence—one of the most chilling acts of violence in the play. Despite having little stage time, the Rosengren brothers achieve a lot. They play their characters with innocence and authenticity, which emphasizes the grisly crime Macbeth has ordered.
The psychological toll of these crimes begins to weigh heavily on both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. As Macbeth seeks out the witches again for reassurance, he falls under the influence of Hecate (Caitlin Wise), the goddess of witchcraft, who is angered that the witches acted without her consent. She begins to manipulate Macbeth’s growing obsession with fate and his dangerous overconfidence. In this production, Hecate’s ominous presence is heightened by Apollo Mark Weaver’s dark and haunting design and Lauren Roark’s evocative costumes, which lend an otherworldly elegance to her and her eerie minions (Emma Cox, Gabriel W. Elmore, Austin Fronk, Blake Henri, Elijah Eliakim Hernandez, and AJ Newbury). Meanwhile, Lady Macbeth becomes increasingly consumed by guilt, descending into sleepwalking episodes where she relives the horrors they have unleashed.
As Macbeth clings to the throne through fear and force, Scotland falls into unrest. Noblemen begin to turn against him, and a growing alliance forms to challenge his rule, led by Malcolm, the rightful heir. In this final act, the tension and urgency are heightened by Shannon McKinney’s stark, dramatic lighting, Lindsay Jones’s haunting sound design and original score, and Andrew Flasch’s precise music direction—all of which intensify the sense of impending reckoning as the conflict surges toward its climax.
Macbeth is ultimately the story of a man whose ambition drives him to betray his honor, his country, and himself—setting in motion a tragedy that none can stop. Don’t miss this bloody but spectacular show!
Utah Shakespeare Festival presents Macbeth, by William Shakespeare
Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre, 351 W Center Street, Cedar City, UT 84720
Plays on select dates until September 4, 2025, 8:00 PM
Tickets: $15-85
Contact: 435-586-7878 or 1-800-PLAYTIX, guestservices@bard.org