“Macbeth” comes to life for LISD students
Written by admin, Feb 9, 2012, 0 Comments
Courtesy Armando Saldana,
(Laredo, Tx)-The themes of betrayal, greed, and power were on the minds of Laredo Independent School District seniors as they attended a local production of “Macbeth.” The performance was part of the Laredo Theatre Guild International (LTGI) newly developed Class on Stage series at TAMIU. This Shakespeare play was funded by the D.D. Hachar Charitable Trust Fund and International Bank of Commerce.
“We were very excited to present the Class on Stage concept for grant consideration,” said LTGI Artistic Director Joe Arciniega, “and these two great supporters of this community responded to the Class on Stage aspects that reinforce education in literature and history through the direct integration of targeted artistry and entertainment.”
LTGI’s “Class on Stage” series is intended as a four-year cycle of annual presentations of professional quality theatrical productions based upon literary works, classic or contemporary, specifically selected for their direct relevance each year to academic curricula for high school from 9th – 12th grade. Class on Stage series productions were coordinated within LTGI’s regular season of plays timed to offer the maximum opportunity for integration into the applicable English Language Arts and History studies, as well as for impact to testing in those subjects. As part of the cooperative partnership, LTGI’s Class on Stage experience includes analysis of the plays, videotaped character discussions that are shown in the classrooms, with special performances and group pricing for participating school districts. LISD arranged with LTGI and TAMIU to bus in 1000 English Language Arts seniors over two specially set morning performances and were followed by Q&A Luncheon with members of the cast in the TAMIU Student Center Ballroom.
To prepare for the Q&A session, the LISD Instructional Television Department produced several videos to better acquaint students with the cast of characters. They were shown detailed descriptions of each character and the importance of their roles through short videos and interviews of the actors.
“This truly has been a wonderful experience for the students and the play was very entertaining. I am planning to pursue a career in theatre and to be able to get in to the heads of the actors and director has been a great learning experience,” said Amanda Sarabia, senior at VMT Magnet School.
Directed by Vernon Carroll of the Treviño Magnet School and Produced by Joe Arciniega, the team that brought LTGI’s venerable smash hits, “The Sound of Music” and “Annie” to Laredo, LTGI’s “Macbeth” features Joe Arciniega and Teena Arciniega as the Macbeths, as well as Vernon Carroll, John Maxstadt, Adolfo Ramos, Jake Rathmell, Ariadne Diaz, Margo Paz, Claudia Boone, Kelly Fitzgerald, and a cast of 20 plus talented members of the community in various roles.
“Macbeth” opened Thursday, February 2 and runs through Sunday, February 12, with performance times for each week from Thursday through Saturday at 8:00 pm with matinees Sunday at 3:00 pm. Tickets are $15 general admission and $10 for students with Valid ID and for Senior Citizens, and are available for advance purchase at Foster’s located at 1202 Del Mar Boulevard, Suite 101; Blue Top located at 101 Hillside Rd #11, and at the TAMIU Bookstore, as well as at the box office prior to each show. LTGI has set a special Academic Group Rate pricing upon request of $5.00 for groups of 10 or more at one performance, which is half the price of the discounted regular Student Rate.
For more information, call (956) 319-8610 or LTGI on the web at www.laredotheaterguild.com
