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about the ensemble

A Note About Violence:
​for families with younger eyes and other concerned viewers

Thank you for your interest in our production, and thanks also for considering bringing the young people in your life to our play. As theater tends to tackle big topics and difficult emotions, below are a few notes about what to expect during your time with us.

Trigger warnings, briefly: two onstage deaths, screams, symbolic depictions of blood, choreography simulating violence, brief mention of suicide, two mentions of child death*

*Please ask a cast member upon arrival if you’d like more details about any of these instances. Unless depicted onstage, the violence is often only alluded to.

Want more details? Read on!

Our production of Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Macbeth includes music, brief audience interaction, crafting, and a few laughs. It also includes references to and suggestions of violence. We are mindful of all our audience members, regardless of age or experience, and the violence inherent to this tragedy has been choreographed to be safe and not graphic – but it exists.

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you view the show:

• People die: Onstage we see two deaths, and many deaths are referenced. Dowel rods stand in for swords and red fabric for blood.
• Heavy topics are discussed onstage, such as revenge, treachery, and murder. Because of the nature of Shakespeare’s language, these references might be missed by younger audience members. But they are still very much thematically part of the show.
• There are witches, and even some depictions of witchcraft. This is inherent to the play. So are the ghosts. They are not real ghosts, we promise (our actors are very impressive, but they tend to stay on this plain of existence).
• There are a few screams and a good deal of shouting. We will not be offended if your little ones – or you yourself – need to walk away for a bit to play on the swing set.
• The play runs about 90 minutes. Though we have found it tends to keep kids engaged, once again we won’t be upset if your little ones need to run around and stretch their legs. We trust they’ll re-engage when they're ready! (We just ask that you please remain considerate of your neighboring audience members).
• Using our surroundings: The truth is, sometimes it storms in the Midwest with no warning. If we're worried we're going to blow away we will all seek shelter together, but if it starts to sprinkle and is only mildly annoying, the show will probably go on – So bring an umbrella if you're worried it might rain.

We think that's all. Mostly we would just really love to see you and your young friends (and old friends) (and same age friends) when we come to town. We are pretty proud of this story. We have a great script (thanks Shakespeare), a great director (thanks Sara), and a lot of great helpers along the way. Now all the cast needs is you, our audience, to truly bring this story to life!

Director - Sara BenBella
Ensemble -Felicia Hinojosa, Devony Hof, Julia Stemper, Carolyn Waldee and Theo Zucker

This program is partially supported by a grant from the Southern Arts Fund, a program of ArtSpace 304, and the Illinois Arts Council Agency made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts