Power, prophecy, and peril take center stage as the Utah Shakespeare Festival presents Macbeth, running through September 4 at the open-air Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre. Directed by John DiAntonio and sponsored by the Ashton Family Foundation, this production plunges audiences into one of Shakespeare’s most gripping tales — a psychological thriller as chilling today as it was 400 years ago.
Haunted by the witches’ cryptic visions and spurred on by his wife’s fierce ambition, Macbeth’s rise to power becomes a bloody climb that sends Scotland spiraling into chaos. With themes of fate, morality, and the corrosive nature of unchecked desire, the play draws audiences into a world where “fair is foul, and foul is fair,” and the line between hero and villain blurs with every heartbeat.
Festival favorites Walter Kmiec and Cassandra Bissell lead the cast as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, delivering performances that promise both intimate vulnerability and commanding intensity. The Engelstad’s Elizabethan-inspired design — complete with modern lighting and sound — provides a striking backdrop for the production, blending timeless architecture with cutting-edge stagecraft.
Now in its 63rd season, the Utah Shakespeare Festival has built a national reputation for exceptional classical theatre, set against the red rock beauty of Cedar City. Visitors can make a full evening of it by enjoying The Greenshow pre-performance entertainment or exploring the adjacent Southern Utah Museum of Art before curtain.
Macbeth runs June 16 through September 4, 2025, with tickets available online. For a full schedule and seating options, visit the Utah Shakespeare Festival website.
