BEREA, Ky. — Shakespeare is showing up twice on The Spotlight Playhouse schedule this season, and the two productions are aimed at distinct parts of the community.
In March, Spotlight Acting School students take on the comedy The Taming of the Shrew with a two-cast format for teens. Looking ahead to June, the Bluegrass Players bring the tragedy Macbeth to the Spotlight stage, with auditions already posted for anyone who wants to be part of the cast.
🎬 First Up: “The Taming of the Shrew” (March 6–15)
This is a teen production featuring Spotlight Acting School students ages 14–18. The show is directed by Jazzlyn Threlkeld and runs for two weekends with two different casts.
- Blue Cast: Performs March 6–8
- Purple Cast: Performs March 13–15
For teen performers, Shakespeare is a useful kind of challenge. The scenes force students to make clear choices and communicate them out loud; you cannot coast through the language. You have to listen, respond, and stay in rhythm with the people on stage with you.
For the audience, Shrew is simply fun. It is one of Shakespeare’s most well-known comedies, built for big personalities, quick turns, and plenty of momentum. In a small theater, that energy tends to carry, especially when the cast is made up of students tackling a classic together.
🗡️ Next Up: “Macbeth” (June 19–28) — Auditions Open Now
If Shrew is Spotlight’s student Shakespeare, Macbeth is the community invitation.
Presented by the Bluegrass Players—the theater’s adult and community troupe—this production runs June 19–28 and is directed by Dr. Edwin Tait and Dr. Jennifer Woodruff.
Call for Auditions: Sunday, March 8
The audition notice is open now. It lists auditions for Sunday, March 8, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. at The Spotlight Playhouse (214 Richmond Road, Berea).
Auditions are open to teens and adults (recommended ages 11 and up). For families and first-time community actors, that age range matters—it signals that this is not a closed circle, but an opportunity for new faces to join seasoned performers on stage.
🕯️ Local Lore: The Curse of the “Scottish Play”
Theater superstitions are hard to break, especially when it comes to Macbeth. Traditionally, actors never say the name of the play inside a theater (referring to it only as “The Scottish Play”) to avoid bad luck.
Executive Director Dr. Chad Hembree (Mr. Chad) found out the hard way just how seriously some take that rule. Edwin Tait, who is co-directing the upcoming production, teased Mr. Chad that the last time the theater scheduled Macbeth coincided with the pandemic shutdown. The running joke? That the entire global shutdown might have been Mr. Chad’s fault because he dared to say “Macbeth” inside the building.
With the pandemic in the rearview mirror, the theater is finally ready to break the curse and bring the show to the stage—safely.
🌟 Why It Matters for Berea
Shakespeare remains a staple in American theater for a reason. The stories are clear, the characters are bold, and the language gives actors something meaty to play. In a season where people are looking for both learning experiences and community connection, these two productions offer both.
📅 UPCOMING EVENTS IN BEREA
The Spotlight Playhouse Website
- Disney’s The Lion King KIDS — Feb. 20–March 1
- Blazing Guns at Roaring Gulch — Feb. 22, 27–28
- The Taming of the Shrew — March 6–15
EKU Center for the Arts
Louisville Orchestra Tour