Free Shakespeare Summer Series Starts June 13

ack Alley Productions is set to put on the dark Shakespearean classic Macbeth.

All shows are free and open to the public, but donations are appreciated as they help fund the work that has gone into the production.  

Macbeth tells of the rise and fall of a prominent Scottish general whose thirst for power drives him into evil. As Macbeth rises into kingship, the bodies fall in his path. And as the kingdom crumples under Macbeth’s dangerous ambition, his sanity begins to collapse with it. It is considered one of Shakespeare’s most well-known tragedies, identified by its iconic witches, dark prophecy, political masterminding and high body count.

The first weekend of performances will be held at the Mars Theater in downtown LaFayette on June 13 and 14 at 7:30 p.m. with a June 15 Sunday matinee set for 2 p.m. This renovated historical theater is at 117 N. Chattanooga St.

The cast will then go to the Coolidge Park Outdoor Stage on the north shore area of Chattanooga on June 21 at 7:30 p.m. for an outdoor show. Bring chairs and picnics, and enjoy an evening with Shakespeare. 

The last weekend in June, the show will close at Baylor School's Roddy Theater on June 27 and 28 at 7:30 p.m. The school is at 171 Baylor School Road.

This is Back Alley’s ninth show since the company was formed in 2011 and third show this season. It is directed by Kaylee Smith with co-director and combat choreographer James Caleb Reed. The company has actors and crew from Dalton, Ringgold, Tunnel Hill, Chattanooga, and the Hixson areas. Their motto is theatre for everyone and they welcome inquiries for upcoming auditions and performances through the website's contact information www.backalleyproductions.org and on Facebook.

For more information on the show, visit backalleyproductions.org or call 706.621-2870. 

The show runs roughly two hours, not including a 15 minute intermission in the middle.