Lean & Hungry Theater's "Macbeth"

Piece Description

Lean & Hungry Theater, DC’s only radio drama company and Washington DC’s NPR affiliate WAMU-88.5, present this radio drama adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.”

The one-hour production was originally broadcast by Washington DC NPR affiliate WAMU 88-5 on Halloween, October 31, 2010.

Set in modern-day Washington, DC Lean & Hungry’s “Macbeth” recasts Shakespeare’s classic characters in The White House and the surrounding area, with modern “journalists” narrating through “breaking news.”

The cast of “Macbeth” includes artists who have appeared with or taught at The Folger Theatre, The Shakespeare Theatre, The Baltimore Shakespeare Festival, The Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, The Washington Shakespeare Company, Studio Theatre, and other local and national companies.

“The story of ‘Macbeth’ is among the best known – and most frequently taught – of Shakespeare’s plays,” said Jessica Hansen, Lean & Hungry’s Artistic Director. “In keeping with our educational mission to provide easily understandable Shakespeare for all, we’ve once again focused on a reading list standard.”

 “We’re making it particularly relevant and understandable to younger and underserved audiences by placing it in a contemporary setting with modern-day sound effects.” Hansen added. “We also have edited the production to one hour, with modern-language narration providing recap of the original text throughout the show. It’s an ideal way to introduce the broadest audiences to this important work.”

Lean & Hungry Theater is the only company in the Washington, DC metropolitan area dedicated to adapting works of Shakespeare and other classic playwrights for radio broadcast.

The productions and recordings of Lean & Hungry Theater productions are endorsed by the National Federation of the Blind.