Voodoo Macbeth Drama by Tonya Hays © The Dramatic Publishing Company Voodoo Macbeth Drama. By Tonya Hays. Based on William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Cast: 3 to 5m., 3 to 9w., 6 to 8 either gender. Shakespeare’s classic tragedy comes to life in a unique way. The setting is Bayou St. John in New Orleans where Marie Laveau invites everyone to come and watch this tragic tale. “I wel- come you to Bayou St. John on St. John’s Eve. On this hallowed night, I have something special for you. Members of our group have been preparing a presentation, a celebration of a dark tale of a tragic king. My children, ZiZi, Saloppe and Josephine, will lead you through with the power of the gris-gris and voodoo to weave this story of greed, passion and despair. … As I have told you many times voodoo for me is never evil. It will be used for good, so enjoy this tale and learn its lesson well my children.” The witches ZiZi, Saloppe and Josephine manipulate the characters and the story. The use of puppetry, voodoo dolls and gris-gris add to the surreal setting. Dead characters appearing as zombies from the voodoo tradition lend an eerie, evil ambience to the entire macabre tale. The optional use of percussion through traditional drum rhythms enhances the experience and heightens the tension and intrigue of Macbeth’s doomed quest. Area staging. Approximate running time: 45 min- utes. Code: V45. Cover design: Susan Carle. ISBN: 978-1-61959-006-9 Dramatic Publishing Your Source for Plays and Musicals Since 1885 311 Washington Street Woodstock, IL 60098 www.dramaticpublishing.com 800-448-7469 © The Dramatic Publishing Company Voodoo Macbeth Adapted by TONYA HAYS From the play by William Shakespeare Dramatic Publishing Company Woodstock, Illinois ● Australia ● New Zealand ● South Africa © The Dramatic Publishing Company *** NOTICE *** The amateur and stock acting rights to this work are controlled exclusively by THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC., without whose permis- sion in writing no performance of it may be given. Royalty must be paid every time a play is performed whether or not it is presented for profit and whether or not admission is charged. A play is performed any time it is acted before an audience. 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For performance of any songs, music and recordings mentioned in this play which are in copy- right, the permission of the copyright owners must be obtained or other songs and recordings in the public domain substituted. ©MMXV by TONYA SANDERS HAYS Printed in the United States of America All Rights Reserved (VOODOO MACBETH) ISBN: 978-1-58342-998-3 © The Dramatic Publishing Company IMPORTANT BILLING AND CREDIT REQUIREMENTS All producers of the play must give credit to the author of the play in all pro- grams distributed in connection with performances of the play and in all in- stances in which the title of the play appears for purposes of advertising, pub- licizing or otherwise exploiting the play and/or a production. The name of the author must also appear on a separate line, on which no other name appears, immediately following the title, and must appear in size of type not less than fifty percent (50%) the size of the title type. Biographical information on the au- thor, if included in the playbook, may be used in all programs. In all programs this notice must appear: “Produced by special arrangement with THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC., of Woodstock, Illinois.” © The Dramatic Publishing Company Voodoo Macbeth was premiered by the WINGS Performing Arts program in November 2012 at the Lynn Meadows Dis- covery Center in Gulfport, Miss. Cast (in order of appearance): ZiZi .........................................Brandi Bowen, Brielle Jordan Saloppe ..............................Katie Glydewell, Sarah Grammar Josephine .............................. Lizy Hurlbert, Sarah Pendleton Marie Laveau/Hecate ...... Jade Dedeaux, Dominque Howard Duncan/Doctor ................................................... Elliot Storey Malcolm ............................................................ Daniel Ridge Ross ............................Alyssa Diamond, Dominique Howard Captain .......................................Lucy Ridge, Denzle Walker Macbeth ........................ Dayton Williams, Kenny McGravey Banquo .................................................................. Jason Toth Lady Macbeth .............................................Rebecca Johnson Messenger/Porter ...............Mollye Ladner, Emily Overmyer Macduff ........................................Ray Zanders, Jordan Denz Lennox .................................................................Lucy Ridge Murderers ...........................................................Katie Miller, Gabriella Cuevas, Emily Overmyer Lady Macduff ..........................Sarah Campbell, Gracie Hays Macduff’s Child ...................... Maddie Ridge, Ayden Ladner Dede ...............................Gabrielle Cuevas, Emily Overmyer Regina ................................Alyssa Diamond, Mollye Ladner Rosalie ............................................ Katie Miller, Lucy Ridge Swing ...................................................................Lucy Ridge 4 © The Dramatic Publishing Company Production: Directors ..................................... Tonya Hays, Bob Williams, Producers .....................................Tanya Prater, Flo Williams, Stage Manager ........................................Summerlin LaCour, Choreographer ............................................Gabriella Cuevas, Set Design ....................................................... Bob Williams, Joseph Williams, James Nelson. Music Director ............................................. Joseph Williams Asst. Music Director .......................................... Ray Zanders Musicians ..............................Ray Zanders, Joseph Williams, Lane Stewart, Melody Waldrop, Jason Toth, Gracie Hays Costumes Designer ...........................................Lizy Hurlbert 5 © The Dramatic Publishing Company Voodoo Macbeth is dedicated to the Lynn Dedeaux family— direct descendents of Marie Laveau. Many thanks for their support of this project. © The Dramatic Publishing Company Voodoo Macbeth CHARACTERS Marie Laveau / Hecate Witches ZiZi: First Witch Saloppe: Second Witch Josephine: Third Witch Additional Witches / Murderers / Puppeteers Dede: Witch A Regina: Witch B Rosalie: Witch C Captain / Soldier / Angus King Duncan: King of Scotland Malcolm: his son and heir to the throne Macbeth: general in the king’s army Banquo: general in the king’s army and friend of Macbeth Lords Macduff Lennox Ross Angus Servant / Porter / Messenger: officer, attending Macbeth Son: child of Macduff Lady Macduff: wife of Macduff (can also be gentlewoman) 2 Murderers (Witches can also serve as murderers) Lady Macbeth Doctor Gentlewoman: attending Lady Macbeth 7 © The Dramatic Publishing Company PRODUCTION NOTES CHARACTER: Many characters can be double cast for a smaller ensemble as indicated above. Exploring gender in the roles can lead to interesting directing choices as well. The murderers may also be witches. The witches may take on character roles as well. They may also function as musicians. As the characters are killed, they become zombies, which is part of the voodoo tradition. They reappear with their bloodied wounds and pale complexions. They appear in the final scene holding branches and surrounding Macbeth as victims of his crimes. Since the three main witches are onstage the entire show, their reactions and movement can be experimented with to denote they are in control. They can function as a Greek chorus repeating lines, making sounds and whispering when warranted. The director is encouraged to experiment with this concept. MUSIC: Music and percussion are suggested. Actors/ musicians can experiment with various percussion instruments throughout the piece. Congas, African drums and bells, Calinda rhythms and Bamboula dance and rhythms were studied via YouTube. All music and sound are live, generated by the percussion ensemble. Actors/musicians are encouraged to find moments for percussion. COSTUME: Costumes are simple in nature as if the poorer people of the time period of Marie Laveau are putting on a play in the 1800s.