Macbeezy: The Macbeth Hip-Hopera October 15, 2010

MACBEEZY: THE MACBETH HIP-HOPERA
By Kelly Boczek-Petrie and Mark Petrie in posthumous collaboration with William Shakespeare
Directed by Kelly Boczek-Petrie
Musical Direction by Mark Petrie
Choreography by Michele Wolfson
Produced by Joseph P. Stachura
October 15 through November 21, 2009
Fridays and Saturdays @ 8:00 PM / Sundays @ 6:00 PM

It's Shakespeare like you've never seen him before. The Tragedy of Macbeth now exists in an alternate tartan-clad universe in the Knightsbridge Theatre's world premiere production of "Macbeezy: the Macbeth Hip-Hopera" - opening Friday, October 15. With original music and lyrics interlaced with classic Shakespearean text, plenty of dance numbers and musical influences from The Black-Eyed Peas, Eminem and Beyonce, you'll never think of Shakespeare the same way again.

Director and Knightsbridge Member Kelly Boczek-Petrie brings her special brand of quirky dark comedy to this production, bringing out many comedic moments along Macbeth's road to destruction. For this world premiere production of "Macbeezy," Boczek-Petrie has assembled a stellar cast, which features Tony Williams (Macbeth/Macbeezy), Michelle Merring (Lady M), Stuart Calof (McDuff/Mackie D), Beth Yocam (Lady D), Vance Roi Reyes (Duncan/Dunc-a-Dunc), Rene Guerrero (Malcolm), Julia Morizawa (Donalbania), Arif Knchen (Banquo/BQ), Allana Barton and Kenzo Lee (MCs), Barika Croom, Cai Handley, and Elisa Richardson (Witches). The cast includes several artists who have performed with such hip hop legends as Wyclef Jean, Kardinal Offishall, Red Man and Method Man , the WuTangClan and Fugees and have been seen on MTV, BET and even the Green Inaugural Ball for President Obama.

One of Shakespeare's most well known plays, "Macbeth" ("Macbeezy") is a haunting tale of the rise and fall of a man destroyed by his desperate hunger for power and acceptance. With the strong influence of his fiendish wife Lady Macbeth (Lady M) and against the advice of the bizarre trio of rapping witches who warn him of the dark fruits of his actions, Macbeezy sets out to bring down the king, Duncan (Dunc-a-Dunc), turn friend against friend and steal the throne from the rightful heirs (Malcolm and Donalbania) by spinning an intricate web of lies and deceit.

Boczek-Petrie, a Detroit native, who has acted in the play "Macbeth" several times, has worked for over 10 years teaching Shakespeare in inner city youth programs and creating new interpretations of classic works that are accessible and exciting for a modern audience. The Knightsbridge Theatre is excited to bring her unique vision, complete with a revised text integrating language from the streets into the classic Scottish play, to the Knightsbridge Theatre stage. "Macbeezy" has been work-shopped and developed over the past two years, in musical collaboration between Kelly Boczek-Petrie and her husband and award winning composer, Mark Petrie, a Knightsbridge Member who has appeared on the Knightsbridge Theatre stage in the critically acclaimed "Little Shop of Horrors" and "Much Ado About Nothing." Choreographer and hip hop dance instructor, Michelle Wolfson, joins the production team to add her hip-hop dance flavor to this exciting new show.

Click the ticket below to purchase seats online. $20 general admission, $18 students/seniors. Some adult language and situations. Please contact us at 323-667-0955 to inquire about group discounts!

Official Website: http://www.knightsbridgetheatre.com/current_show.html