5^th E English Name:___________________________

Shakespeare’s Macbeth

Performance Assignment

You’re in luck! You get to perform a scene from Macbeth!

You can choose a partner, or more than one, and then select the scene you want to do. You’ll have some time in class to work on preparing your scene, but you may need to work with each other outside of class, too. You will even bring in “costumes” to perform in, but the type of costume is up to you.

Rules:

• You may work by yourself, or with a partner, or in a group.
• If you’re in a group, try to pick a scene that spreads the work and lines out evenly.
• On the other hand, no section of the play is perfect. So some will have more lines than others.
• Yes, you have to memorize your lines.
• Yes, props and costumes help your grade.
• Girls can play male parts, but boys may not play female parts.

Scene choosing:

• Select a scene that closely fits the number of characters in your group.
• If you’re alone, you may select a soliloquy or other selection of lines from one character.
• You may cut lines and parts, as long as you keep the sense of the lines.
• You may turn two characters into one character, if it makes sense.
• Each person in your group should be required to learn about 25-30 lines.
• Be creative. I’ve seen groups perform…
• … “The Two Faces of Lady Macbeth” (mean Lady Macbeth, and weak Lady Macbeth)
• … “Guilt in Macbeth” (different characters expressing guilt in the play)
• … “Hallucinations” (different hallucination scenes in the play)

Scene concept:

• Think of unique ways to present your scene.
• Macbeth as a mafia boss? 1920’s gangsters?
• Wild costumes? Unique performance location?
• Macbeth set in a giant, modern corporation?
• A genuine, Shakespearean-era production?

Your Grade:

• This project will count the same as a test.
• The grading categories are…
• Working in class, not wasting time you are given to prepare (individual grade) (20 points)
• Props, costumes, and the look of your performance (group grade) (20 points)
• Line memorizing (individual grade) (20 points)
• Line delivery (with understanding and meaning) (individual grade) (20 points)
• Creativity in scene selection and scene performance & concept (group grade) (20 points)

Your Schedule:

7 Monday Reading Workshop Book Talk: Gloria	8 Tuesday Finish Act 5 Pick group & scene	9 Wednesday Video of Act 5 Work in groups	10 Thursday PERSUASIVE ESSAY DUE Work in groups	11 Friday Work in groups; try to have lines memorized by today.
12 Monday Reading Workshop Book Talk: Amar	13 Tuesday VOCAB QUIZ Work in groups Volunteer Performances	14 Wednesday PERFORMANCES Official Day #1	15 Thursday PERFORMANCES Official Day #2	16 Friday Any further performances?