Rehearsals for the upcoming play “Mmmbeth” have been underway since the beginning of November and cast members could not be more excited about how well the play is coming along.

Senior Julie Lemon is excited about this upcoming production.

“The whole cast has been working very hard,” Lemon said. “It is going to be a very fun play, and it won’t lose your attention, not even for a second.”

Lemon is the student director this year, but is also a lead actor in the production.

Junior Rian Schulz is happy with how the play is turning out.

“People are going to love this play,” Schulz said. “It has a lot of comedy in it and we have the perfect bunch of actors to bring it to life.”

Students have been in the auditorium nearly every day rehearsing. Lead roles have been putting in even more time.

The play “Mmmbeth” is a spin-off of the original William Shakespeare play “Macbeth.”

The story centers on Mmmbeth, whose real name cannot be said or it will bring bad luck to the entire theater.

Mmmbeth is told by three witches that he will soon become king, but he assumes he will wait until Queen Duncan dies in 40 or 50 years.

This is not soon enough for Lady Mmmbeth, since she wants to be queen right away. Lady Mmmbeth then devises a plan so that she and her husband can take the throne immediately.

Like most of Shakespeare’s stories, however, things do not go exactly as planned.

The play is lighthearted and modern language keeps it upbeat, but it also has twists and turns, giving it the dark feel that the original “Macbeth” brought to the stage.

All the blood and tragedy of the original, along with humor and modern dialect, make this play a sure hit for the drama department.

Opening night for “Mmmbeth” is Thursday, Jan.21, with another show on Friday, Jan. 22. Showtimes will be 7 p.m on both nights.

Tickets are $5 at the door, but there will be opportunities to buy tickets before the dates of the performance.

The play’s director, Mr. John Hall, thinks the play is going to be a hit.

“It (‘Mmmbeth’) puts a fun twist on a classic play,” Hall said. “It is very exciting and sure to keep all audience members’ attention.”