‘Mac Beth’ Reinvents ‘Macbeth’ for Teen Drama Queens

The Scottish play has awakened passions since Shakespeare’s day, inspiring countless interpretations and re-imaginings along the way. Enter Mac Beth by Erica Schmidt, “equally giggly and grisly,” according to Time Out New York, finding its way to Washington’s Landing May 30-June 15. 

Brought to the shores of the Allegheny River by Vigilance Theater Group, the play in Pittsburgh will be subject to the elements. For comfort’s sake, BYOC (bring your own outdoor folding chair). 

Rainouts are possible. Angst and aggression will bubble to the surface. Violence and dread are mandatory. 

The Dramatists Play Service describes Mac Beth, in part, this way:

“Seven teenage girls convene in an abandoned lot to perform a play. They drop their backpacks, transform their uniforms, and dive into a DIY retelling of Macbeth. As the girls conjure kings, warriors, and witches, Shakespeare’s bloody tale seeps into their reality.”

Called “hauntingly brilliant” by BroadwayWorld, TimeOut New York said of Red Bull Theater’s 2019 off-Broadway production, “The language is mostly Shakespeare’s, albeit pared down to one whirlwind act. The sensibility, however, is decidedly contemporary, as these hyperactive drama queens get lost in a gruesome fantasy world.”

Much more would surely be spoilers, but creative director Sean Collier notes that the play has been compared to Lord of the Flies and the Showtime series Yellowjackets. 

The Vigilance production is directed by Ingrid Sonnichsen, with a cast including Mal Mackenzie as Macbeth and Sarah Dugan as Lady Macbeth.

The cast also includes Bradleigh Bell, Lulu James, Veta Piscitella, Marisa Postava and Kendall Mason.

“They’re really bringing energy, enthusiasm and a lot of humor,” Collier said of the cast. “It’s Macbeth, you know how it’s going to end, but the road to get there over the course of the 90 minutes is often very funny … in areas where there is a place for genuine humor.”

With Dana Custer, Ariella Furman and Renee Rabenold, Collier co-founded Vigilance in 2018, to create intimate, immersive theatrical experiences. They continue to keep the engine running, Collier says, along with Allie Lampman-Simms, Marisa Postava, and others. The very busy Pittsburgh actress Saige Smith (Point Park University Class of 2018) has been involved with the theater almost from the start.

It was director of production Postava who saw the off-Broadway production of Mac Beth, and recommended it to the theater group.

Besides his behind-the-scenes role with Vigilance, Collier is a movie critic, host of the Steel City Horror Show at the Harris Theater, a pro wrestling ring announcer and standup comedian – “I’m overloaded right now,” he says in an understatement – while also serving as managing editor of and a contributor to Pittsburgh Magazine, which has offices on Washington’s Landing.

“Oddly enough,” he says, “the first time I ever set foot on the Island was the Quantum Theatre show that I house-managed, the 36 Views [in 2009]. I thought it was a great space for theater.”

Like that production, Mac Beth will take place at the north end of Washington’s Landing. 

Vigilance has previously been partially outdoors, at North Park’s Parish Hill Barn, with The Crucible in 2023.

The Crucible was like 90% covered, but this one is open enough that if there is a serious threat of rain, we are just going to have to move people to another performance. But the more I’ve seen some of the companies that typically perform outdoors” – he mentions Pittsburgh Shakespeare and the Parks and Poor Yorick’s Players – “the environment adds to the proceedings in unexpected and delightful ways.”

Collier recalled “animal interruptions” and times when “the wind would strike up at just the right moment” during The Crucible. 

For Mac Beth, Washington’s Landing and the weather gods may hold a few surprises as well.