The Theatre and Dance Department put on a winter showcase titled “Macbitches” on Friday, Feb. 14 and Saturday, Feb. 15. For this production, the actresses didn’t have to stray far from reality to play the part; the five cast members of “Macbitches” were all portraying undergraduate acting majors, as the plot unfolds in a campus apartment. Despite the play’s confined setting and run-time, New York-based playwright Sophie McIntosh paints a bigger picture that comments on the competitive nature of the theatre industry, particularly amongst young women.
As student director Grace Woodhouse ’25 best summarizes it, “throughout the show, a dangerous duo of ambition and alcohol reveals the emotional complexity and fragility associated with college theatre and the relationships formed therein, and the characters learn that entitlement can be blinding.”
When it came time for Woodhouse to choose a play for the showcase, the authenticity of “Macbitches” is what kept drawing her back in and made it her final pick. “This show grabbed my attention immediately through the title,” Woodhouse told “The Bucknellian.”
“The first time I read through it, the dialogue sounded so familiar,” she continued. “I soon realized that was because it reminded me so much of the ways college women actually speak and act. Sure, a lot of it is dramatized, but at the core, it is so real and special.”
“I read it a total of three times before submitting my proposal in February. I had read around 30 other plays and the synopses of maybe 100, but I kept returning to Macbitches.”
The play opens with four of the girls anxiously awaiting the cast list for their university’s spring production—you guessed it— “Macbeth.” To make matters worse, it’s now three hours later than when the cast list was supposed to have been released. Lexi Lapp (Maya Gurung ’26) and Rachel LaBeau (Becca Lipsky ’25) are sitting in their apartment, while Cam Fletcher (Cassie Smith ’27) and Piper Bell (Anne Parsons ’25) are on a phone call downstage. They’re all hoping to see their name at the top of the page, next to the coveted lead role: Lady Macbeth.
When the cast list finally arrives in their inboxes, nervousness and excitement quickly devolve into shock, anger and dejection. “Who the f—?” exclaims Lexi, as the group learns that the lead role has been awarded to freshman Hailey Hudson (Julia Piccolino ’27).
Gurung attributes part of her ability to slip into Lexi’s shoes to the backstage team that was quite literally responsible for the combat boots she wore.
“I absolutely loved [Lexi’s] costume,” said Gurung. “During our first dress rehearsal, I remember doing a full run and really feeling like a mean girl. It completely transformed the way I carried myself on stage.”
Whether on stage or behind the scenes, “Macbitches” was an enjoyable experience for everyone involved. Stage Manager Brenna Eckhart ’27 told “The Bucknellian” that despite being involved in multiple theatre productions on campus, this one has been her favorite experience yet.
“It was an incredibly rewarding role, allowing me to see every aspect of the production,” said Eckhart, “from auditions and rehearsals to production meetings and the final performances.”
“While ‘Macbitches’ portrays a toxic theater environment on stage, the off-stage experience was the complete opposite,” Eckhart continued. “Every person involved made this process an absolute joy. The actresses were incredibly talented and hardworking, making each rehearsal an enjoyable experience.”
Eckhart couldn’t have said it better—it’s evident that the bonds between the cast and crew were not stretched thin like those in “Macbitches.”
“Everyone on the ‘Macbitches’ team has been so supportive and helped me to feel as though I was never alone on this journey,” said Woodhouse.
The cast and crew were just as appreciative of Woodhouse as she was of them.
“Working with Grace herself was such an honor,” said Eckhart. “She is an incredibly talented director who fostered a supportive, productive and inspiring environment for everyone involved.”
“Grace was such an amazing director and gave all of us the perfect balance of structure and creative freedom,” said Gurung. “I had lots of space to explore my character on my own, but I also knew that I could always rely on Grace for anything. I felt both so supported and challenged throughout the process.”
In contrast to all the sweet sentiments from the cast, “Macbitches” did not leave the audience feeling warm and fuzzy. As Woodhouse closes out her Director’s Note, “The thirst for power is blinding. Do everything you can to keep your eyes open.”
