Alfred University’s Performing Arts Division this week welcomed more than 400 western New York high school students and their teachers for an immersive educational experience centered around Shakespeare’s Macbeth, which was performed last weekend in Miller Theater and will be performed also Friday, Oct. 31, and Saturday Nov. 1.
Alfred University’s Performing Arts Division this week welcomed more than 400 western New York high school students and their teachers for an immersive educational experience centered around Shakespeare’s Macbeth, which was performed last weekend in Miller Theater and will be performed also Friday, Oct. 31, and Saturday Nov. 1.
The Macbeth story continues to provoke conversations about ambition, power, and humanity across time and cultures.
The Performing Art Division collaborated with teachers and administrators from Hornell High School, Scio, Andover, Alfred-Almond, Friendship, Bolivar-Richburg, and Bath-Haverling, inviting students in English and Theatre programs to connect their classroom learning with the live performance in Miller theater. Many participating schools are studying Macbeth or other works by Shakespeare, using these plays to explore language, performance, and the human condition through live performance.
“Inviting students to experience stories live and in the moment—where words, performing artists, and ideas meet—is at the heart of what we do,” said Performing Arts Division Associate Dean Jessie Thoman. “Whether it’s Shakespeare or a new work by a student playwright, theatre offers a space for empathy, reflection, and dialogue that helps us better understand ourselves and each other.”
Alfred University’s production of Macbeth features an exceptional ensemble of university students under the direction of Assistant Professor of Theatre Jonathan Ziese, with scenic and lighting design led by Associate Professor of Performance Design and Technology Markéta Fantová and a creative team of emerging performing artists and technicians.
Alfred University’s Macbeth is also being evaluated by the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF), a national program engaging more than 18,000 students from colleges and universities each year. KCACTF celebrates diverse approaches to theatre-making, encouraging innovation, inclusion, and excellence in performance and design.
This outreach event is part of the Performing Arts Division’s ongoing mission to connect campus and community through creativity, collaboration, and shared stories. By bringing regional students and teachers together around live performance, Alfred University underscores its belief that the performing arts are a vital bridge between education, culture, and community.
This initiative is made possible through the generosity of C. Duryea Smith III and Lois M. Smith Fund whose donors recognize the transformative power of the arts. Their support allows the Division to continue offering accessible, high-quality performances that inspire curiosity, critical thinking, and connection throughout the region.
