The witches in Joe Napolitano’s “Macbeth” look like Madonna backup singers circa 1984. Or to put it in their frame of reference, they look like the “Glee” tribute to Lady Gaga.
It’s the look director, choreographer and composer Napolitano was looking for when developing the contemporary movement production of the Shakespeare classic.
“It’s warped slightly to make it a little more crazy and interesting,” he said.
Napolitano’s production is set for 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27, in the auditorium of Central Middle School.
Napolitano, a recent Polytech High School grad, was planning on joining his peers in the annual summer alumni production when longtime director Sharon Crossen turned over the show to him. She suggested something in the public domain so he could mold it without copyright implications, and “Macbeth” started evolving into something the group has never done before.
Napolitano choreographed and taught the steps to the performers, most of whom do not have a dance background, and wrote the original music.
“I didn’t want to steal music from another ballet, that didn’t feel right,” he said.
The production is set up as a ballet with a looser style of dance that, at times, incorporates more classical movement. Each act is prefaced with a brief commentary of the action written by Joe Crossen, Polytech assistant superintendent, and a chorus performed by Dr. Darren Guido, principal of Central Middle School. Those are the only spoken words, the rest of the story told through movement.
Jonathan Duerr is taking a break from an experimental film to act as Macbeth. Duerr has performed Macbeth’s soliloquy many times for auditions and his background at Polytech and Central Delaware Dance Academy are helping, but the production is still a stretch for him.
“It’s a huge challenge to me because I’ve done more theater and acting than I have dancing,” he said. “It’s hard to get the point across without singing or speaking.”
He’s sure audiences will understand the action, though.
His stage wife, Ellice Johnson, agreed that the audience will connect as long as they don’t get too sidetracked.
“I really like it because it really makes you pay attention to what’s going on,” she said.
Napolitano said the cast is enamored with the Gaga-esque corsets, flouncy skirts and wild legwear. It took more than leggings and fingerless gloves to get some of the actors’ attentions, though.
“There are a lot of action and fight scenes, that’s what got the guys in,” he said.
The cast also includes some younger actors, mostly from Capital School District. Crossen said having Polytech and Capital students, staff members and alumni participating, and performing on Capital grounds, makes it a community event.
“We’re trying to entertain and educate at the same time,” she said.
Email Sarika Jagtiani at sarika.jagtiani@doverpost.com.
