1. The Legend of Macbeth as a Cursed Production Kennedy Feltman Shannon Cottingham Sam Tatro Jennifer Rees Ms. Reeve English 12, Period 5

2. About the Curse The curse of Macbeth is the misfortune that happens during the production of the play. The theory goes that Shakespeare included actual black magic spells through the presence of the weird sisters. Those who mention the plays name in the theatre risk having evil brought down on them.

3. Superstition #1 The first superstition is that it is bad luck to say Macbeth in a theatre, except during rehearsal or performance. If you say Macbeth three times, then it curses the theatre FOREVER!

4. How to Cure the Curse of Superstition #1 Leave the room, close the door, turn around three times, say a dirty word (or spit), then knock on the door, and ask to be let back in. If you can’t do these things, then you simply quote from Hamlet Act I, Scene IV: “Angels and Ministers of Grace Defend Us!”

5. Superstition #2 The second superstition is that the play itself is cursed, and brings bad luck to cast and crew.

6. Creepy Background Information In the first production of Macbeth, the boy playing Lady Macbeth became feverish and died backstage. During much of the play, lighting is low. The bulk of the scenes take place at night or in the dark or fog. Every play production includes something going wrong, including actors, costumes, and equipment. Abraham Lincoln was reading passages from Macbeth with friends, and within a week he was assassinated. In 1942, three actors died and the set director committed suicide. David Leary’s 1971 production was plagued with two fires, and seven robberies.

7. Works Cited "Curse - Macbeth." Curse - Macbeth. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2013. Ross, Stewart, Tony Karpinski, Victor G. Ambrus, and Kenneth Branagh. Shakespeare and Macbeth: The Story behind the Play. New York, NY: Viking, 1994. Print. Spurgeon, Caroline F. E. Shakespeare's Imagery, and What It Tells Us,. Cambridge, [Eng.: UP, 1935. Print. "What's the Story on the Curse of Macbeth?" The Straight Dope:. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2013.