VALDOSTA, Ga. – Superstition claims William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” is jinxed.

Theatre folks claim bad things happen by merely saying the name of the title character.

“Theatrical tradition has made ‘Macbeth’ the unluckiest of all Shakespeare’s plays, particularly for those who act in it,” notes Harold Bloom in his book, “Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human.”

Sheri Dorsett said she does not believe “Macbeth” is unlucky.

She directs the Lowndes High School Off-Broadway production of the work often called “The Scottish Play” to avoid calling it by name.

She denied the superstition by repeatedly saying “Macbeth” standing by the footlights of the LHS stage.

The footlights shined upon a cast that flexes around her ankle. She injured the foot and ankle while walking along the stage a few weeks ago.

Break a leg …

Superstition has nothing to do with the injury, she said.

Superstition has nothing do with the potential success of “Macbeth” for LHS Broadway this week. 

Weeks of rehearsal, studying accented brogues, creating elaborate kilts, costumes and makeup, choreographing sword fights: the 45-member student cast and crew plan to make their own luck.

“These students have never performed Shakespeare,” Dorsett said. “Performing Shakespeare has opened them to his plays.”

They have learned the secret of Shakespeare. The Bard is meant to be heard not read. Shakespeare wrote plays, not books. 

The students shouted their agreement prior to a dress rehearsal Tuesday.

The play is filled with warriors and witches, wives of ambitions and a hero who falls prey to royal ambitions.

As Bloom notes, “Macbeth himself can be termed the unluckiest of all Shakespeare protagonists, precisely because he is the most imaginative. A great killing machine, Macbeth is endowed by Shakespeare with something less than ordinary intelligence, but with a power of fantasy so enormous that pragmatically it seems to be Shakespeare’s own.”

So, go ahead, say his name.

But knock on wood.

THE CAST: Collin Dorsett, Bryce Mixon, Jason Wiggins, Riley Davis, Thomas Falkenhausen, Caleb Chaney, Ryan McGee, Brandon Sharp, Grace Diamond, Chyenne Corbett, Jessena Toves-Mesa, Alex Cope, Carissa Zaun, Alayna McSwain, Jason Gramlick, Jordan Mendoza, Camden Burrous, Sarah Boutwell, Blaise Lewis, Isaiah Harris, Jarius Smith, Jason Wiggins, Madison Coleman, Cydia Walker, Meredith Reitz, Maddi Robinson, Kristen Broyles, Ashley Robinson, Kassandra Hertzog, Abby Gill, Kristy Carter.

DIRECTION, PRODUCTYION: Sheri Dorsett, director; Megan Current, stage manager; Joely Peterman, rehearsal prompter; Trevor Clayton, Will Burrous, Samara Schindler, Lawson Cribb, Gracen Brantley, Liz Robinson, Kaylee Huff, crew.  

SHOWTIME

Lowndes High School Off-Broadway presents Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.”

When: 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Jan. 19, 20, 21.

Where: Auditorium, Lowndes High School, off Norman Drive.