"Naked Macbeth" coming to New York in October

[eslgr8]

Posted: 9/4/05 at 3:13pm

Sounds like it's going to be quite a production:
NAKED MACBETH
with an All Male Cast
OCTOBER 6TH – 30TH 2005
Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays 8:00pm
Sundays 2:00pm and 7:00pm
SONNET THEATRE 358 West 44th Street New York NY 10036

According to the casting notice.
"Nudity is required of all actors. But, please understand, this is NOT "Naked Boys Acting." Nudity will be treated as a costume, and will be used to highten the telling of the story where appropriate. The degree of each character's on-stage nudity will be developed during the rehearsal process. Please assume that, at some point in the production, each actor will be fully naked on stage. This will, most likely, not be the case, but it is better that you as an actor are fully prepared for what may be asked of you.
By its very nature, this production will have an homoerotic overtone. There will be instances of close physical contact which, in some instances, will include kissing."

Will any of you actors be trying out?
Hope some of you will catch this one next month and report back on it!
Andorra Theatre Company

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/4/05 at 3:29pm

I'm in favor of anything that brings people into a Shakespeare play!

But I'm also a little angry that George C. Wolfe didn't think of this for the Alec Baldwin Macbeth.

[eslgr8]

Posted: 9/4/05 at 3:55pm

They're looking for legitimate trained actors "in excellent physical condition" who don't mind taking their clothes off.
More from the casting notice:
"Though this production is non-union and is not governed by the rules and regulations of Actors Equity, all aspects of the production will be handled in a professional manner, and all actors will be treated with respect and consideration.
We are looking for strong actors of all ages and ethnicities in excellent physical condition. All female roles will be played honestly and without feminine affectation."

[AngusN]

Posted: 9/4/05 at 4:00pm

Wow! I wonder if Cheyenne Jackson is busy in October. What a thought!

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 9/4/05 at 4:05pm

mmmm... this sounds a little untasteful to me. like the director has some kind of immature fantasy he wants to satisfy. and good luck trying to find legitimate trained actors in excellent physical condition... please... I mean, I know they're out there, but c'mon... they're not in abundance.

[Eliza0114]

Posted: 9/4/05 at 4:19pm

oh my God...it's my dream.

[where's my shoe?]

Posted: 9/4/05 at 4:20pm

"Nudity will be treated as a costume, and will be used to highten the telling of the story where appropriate."

Maybe that's the idea, but I think that kind of concept is hard to pull off. Just because the director feels that way, doesn't mean all audience members will. However, I do agree with the homoerotic theme. I recently assistant directed a production of Macbeth and our Banquo was a girl. The directors made a point of showing the sexual tension between Macbeth and Banquo, and it made me realize that there probably could have been some, even with Banquo as a male.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/4/05 at 4:24pm

I wonder what kind of person dismisses a production that he or she hasn't seen "untasteful," because it is done in the nude? I know they're no grammarians, but why so prudish?

Posted: 9/4/05 at 4:36pm

Three questions:

1. How will the director will stage the "out, out damned spot" line, and what what spot will be referenced?

2. Does anyone know the bow order for this production?

Posted: 9/4/05 at 4:36pm

Three questions:

1. How will the director will stage the "out, out damned spot" line, and what what spot will be referenced?

2. Does anyone know the bow order for this production?

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 9/4/05 at 5:53pm

non-Equity and must be in "excellent physical condition" (aka HOT BOD)?

Well, I won't be auditioning.

[Theatreboy33]

Posted: 9/4/05 at 6:56pm

Frankly, this piece just seems moronic beyond all belief. The fact that, not only are all these actors to be nude, but also be in excellent physical condition only goes to show that Shakespeare's material will be placed second behind the allure of naked, fit actors parading around onstage. What are the homoerotic themes of Macbeth? Why do they need to be explored in such a childish, pornographic way, such that we are to see these men at their most vulnerable, but of course we'd never see them with a hanging gut or unchissled abs. No, we have to see actors like we imagine in our fantasies. I dont have a problem with a reinterpretation of a classic drama to further bring out homoerotic themes, but when the homoeroticism is brought to the foreground in such a tasteless way as this and thus overshadows the original piece, i can't see a point to purchasing a ticket.

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 9/4/05 at 9:58pm

"mmmm... this sounds a little untasteful to me. like the director has some kind of immature fantasy he wants to satisfy."

Yeah, it does kind of sound like that, doesn't it?
Anyway, I don't understand what the point of naked Shakespeare is. What's it going to bring to the party? It sounds like it's going to become a big bachelorette party draw, and we all know how civil and dignified the average bachelorette party is.

Updated On: 9/4/05 at 09:58 PM

[TabooPhan1]

Posted: 9/4/05 at 10:12pm

"Anyway, I don't understand what the point of naked Shakespeare is."

To make it interesting :) Sorry, but as an actor, and as an audience member, despite my many many many many many attempts to enjoy shakespeare's work, I just can't. I respect it, but I don't really enjoy it. And maybe it is tasteless, but that doesn't mean it won't be fun. Let's not forget Rocky's tastelessness, Hedwig's tastelessness, and many other shows' outrageous sexual adventures, but that doesn't make them boring. Even shakespeare isn't too good for a penis joke.

[Liz_Bennet]

Posted: 9/4/05 at 11:21pm

The guy insists it's not sensationalistic. But he's calling it "Naked Macbeth". I mean, dude. You can't have it both ways.

Updated On: 9/4/05 at 11:21 PM

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 9/5/05 at 12:49am

He should own up that it is sensationalist. There's nothing wrong with spicing up Shakespeare. But, if it's done at the cost of the acting--why bother? This is being done in a small non-Equity theatre. Peter Brooks it's not!

[eslgr8]

Posted: 9/5/05 at 4:10am

I agree, it's a rather cheesy concept, and the nudity can't help but be gratuitous. Still, if I were in New York, I'd go to see it. Would I be the only one???

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 9/5/05 at 7:47am

I wouldn't waste my money on this kind of thing, for the same reason I never went to see Naked Boys Singing.

[eslgr8]

Posted: 9/5/05 at 11:16am

Naked Boys Singing has received many rave reviews, so not seeing it because one doesn't agree with the concept seems to disregard the possibility that it might be quite good (as it in fact is). The final result of Naked Macbeth may not be all that great, but there are plenty of gay men and straight women who will flock to see naked men on stage (so it's a commercially viable concept) and many very good actors seem to enjoy doing on stage nudity, so in a city like New York, there should be plenty of talented actors "in excellent physical condition" (i.e. HOT) who will be glad to be cast in this show, if only for the exposure it will bring them (pun intended). Despite the skepticism and moralizing here, I think they've got a hit on their hands and I wish I could see it.
Updated On: 9/5/05 at 11:16 AM

[TabooPhan1]

Posted: 9/5/05 at 11:24am

I, for one, am supporting any efforts to persuade Heath Ledger, Johnny Depp, and Orlando Bloom to audition :)

[~FloweryFriend~]

Posted: 10/19/05 at 11:26pm

Has anyone seen this???

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 10/19/05 at 11:52pm

Yeah ummm let's remember this is a NON-EQ audition. No one anyone knows will be there. I don't think this is a great idea. The kind of people who don't like shakespeare and would come because it's naked won't appreciate it any more if it were in period costumes. They won't listen to the work and as an actor I might as well be a stripper at that point.

Now Naked boys singing does get rave reviews but personally I didn't like it. I mean yeah the guys were naked but that gets old after the first 20 minutes or so. I mean i can see naked guys online or in a strip club for a lot less money. Also keep in mind that all of the songs in Naked Boys singing have some sort of reference to being naked, gay, or penises in general. And you know what?! That's ok for them, because it's billed as a burlesque revue. They set out to acheive that and do. Macbeth doesn't seem to add anything to that. I think there's something to be said for Quality of audience over any type of audience.


Having said that I'm interested in seeing it just to see if they acheived something special with this production. Updated On: 10/19/05 at 11:52 PM

[jimmirae]

Posted: 10/20/05 at 1:49am

Well, It was bound to happen. I think the mounting (no pun intended) and casting of this show would make a great show itself. I wish it were naked all the times I had to do the "Scottish Play". One time, I had to hold a shrubbery onstage and play Burnham Wood. Directors and their visions!

Updated On: 10/20/05 at 01:49 AM

[Sammy2]

Posted: 11/2/06 at 2:36pm

Really? How much Shakespeare have you seen or read. I haven't read or seen THAT much, but simply in A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Merry Wives Of Windsor I heard more penis jokes than in any other 3 hours of my life. Come on, Shakespeare invented bawdiness.
Updated On: 11/2/06 at 02:36 PM

[Sammy2]

Posted: 11/2/06 at 2:36pm

Really? How much Shakespeare have you seen or read. I haven't read or seen THAT much, but simply in A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Merry Wives Of Windsor I heard more penis jokes than in any other 3 hours of my life. Come on, Shakespeare invented bawdiness.