“What is done cannot be undone….”
Hello, and welcome to a world of ambition, prophecy, and shadows. When we announced Macbeth as our production this year, the first reaction from many students was one of respectful terror. Shakespeare, with his dense language, complex verse, and demanding emotional landscape, represents one of the most intimidating heights in dramatic literature. But I am overwhelmingly proud to share that this cast and crew didn't just approach the challenge—they met it head-on with brilliant resilience and unwavering commitment. Watching these high school students fearlessly tackle the archaic language and the depths of human darkness has been profoundly rewarding. They didn't just memorize lines; they became linguistic detectives, delving into simile and metaphor alike to uncover the raw, urgent emotion beneath every "hark" and "prithee." They translated iambic pentameter into physical action and made the themes of guilt and ambition vibrantly real. This process required a deep maturity and tremendous collaboration, skills that extend far beyond the stage.
What you are about to witness is not a dusty literary exercise, but a living, breathing performance forged by the dedication of these young artists. They have proven that Shakespeare belongs to everyone who is brave enough to speak his words. I hope you lean forward, allow yourselves to be swept into the tragedy, and join me in celebrating the tenacity and triumph of our student ensemble. Thank you for supporting their artistic journey.
I want to thank my partner in crime, Sara Wojtasik, our assistant director with whom I would never have even attempted this show without her deep passion for Shakespeare to guide us. To Jeff Schmela, Rebecca Walker, Rebecca Munoz, Derek Sturn, and Cameron Petti for their amazing technical skills, vision, and leadership backstage and above, creating amazing opportunities for our students. This experience would not be possible for our students without the help of our Parent Board; Thank You So Much! With this being my eleventh play here at Metea Valley, I am incredibly grateful for the amount of support from the community, administration, staff, students, and families. Thank you for believing in these students and in this program all these years. As we say, it takes a village, and we truly are successful because of you!
Please sit back, observe, and enjoy Metea Valley High School’s production of the Scottish tragedy, Macbeth.
Always,
Matt Wolski
