Aquila Theatre Company To Perform 'macbeth' At Norton Auditorium

Feb. 09, 2012

Michelle Eubanks, UNA, at media@una.edu, 256.765.4392 or 256.606.2033

FLORENCE, Ala. - The Aquila Theatre Company will perform William Shakespeare's "Macbeth" at Norton Auditorium Feb. 10 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the University of North Alabama. In addition to their performance, the actors will teach a master class for theater and English students about topics such as the Shakespearean language, dramatic monologue and general theater production. The Aquila Theatre Company is a nonprofit organization founded in London in 1991 by Peter Meineck and has been based in New York City since 1999. The professional acting group's mission is to bring the greatest theatrical works to a large number of audiences. The performance group tours approximately 70 cities every year and is in residence at the Center for Ancient Studies at New York University. Aquila Theatre Company has made many trips south to perform at UNA during the past decade. According to UNA Event Coordinator Jayne Jackson, the acting group normally performs comedies. She said "Macbeth" will be the first time the campus and community will get to experience one of Aquila's darker shows. Jackson recollected on past Aquila's performance of "Romeo and Juliet" on campus when the actors congregated on stage before the show and then proceeded to draw cards in front of their audience to see who would play what character. "They're usually six or seven actors per performance and they're cast in multiple roles," Jackson said. "All of the actors are so well trained and know Shakespearean so well that they get you past the hurdle of the old English language." General admission for the public is $10 and $5 for students. Tickets may be purchased at the box office at 6 p.m. on Feb. 10. Tickets are also available at Pegasus Records, the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, Cold Water Books, Office of University Events and UNA Bookstore. For more information about the performance or master class, contact Jayne Jackson at University Events at 256-765-5068 or email jajackson@una.edu.