New Company Fearless Imp Premieres With Daring MACBETH

For their company's debut, Fearless Imp Entertainment founders Cyanne McClairian and Matthew Martin wanted a powerful production, a classic that could also reflect the issues of today. When they started examining the works of Shakespeare, they quickly realized there was one play that deserved to be examined through a new lens, exploring one character's story which had really never been told.

As such, Fearless Imp will make its stage debut with a poignant production of Shakespeare's classic tragedy Macbeth -as viewed through a feminine lens-running from March 30-April 29 at the McCadden Place Theatre in Los Angeles.

Combining the beautiful, macabre text of Macbeth with movement and dance, this production explores Shakespeare's brutal story of a Scottish king driven mad from his own ambitions from a different angle that's all too relevant today. In this debut show from Fearless Imp Entertainment, with CTB Productions, Lady Macbeth is a survivor of horrifying abuse, flipping the script and challenging us to end the cycle of violence perpetrated through toxic masculinity, often passed on from father to son.

The show is being co-produced by CTB's Jon Tosetti (A Soldier's Play, A Harmony Boys Christmas, Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons). Headed by acclaimed director Heidi Powers (Bronies! The Musical, The Real Housekeepers of Studio City, Ancient History), this bold new approach finally tells Lady Macbeth's story, or, more accurately, her tragedy.

"Influenced by recent events, and our own personal histories, we are threading a common story around Lady Macbeth, the witches, the servants and Lady Macduff, framing each of them as a survivor of assault," Powers said. "It wasn't so long ago that women were still treated as property. It's not hard to imagine that these women could each have said, 'Me Too.' Looking at the play through a feminine lens also allows us to explore the concept of toxic masculinity, which is already baked into Shakespeare's text. Our production takes a close look at Shakespeare's questions in Macbeth, and heightens them for the modern conversation: What drives a person to abuse and violence? Does power corrupt, or are those who pursue power especially corruptible?"

The production stays true to Shakespeare's text and uses original movement to explore shifts in plot, focus and motivation. The show is being choreographed by movement artist and actress Heather Lynn and features a cast of theatre pros with McClairian tackling the role of Lady Macbeth. A theatre and stand-up comedy veteran, McClairian is most known for her acclaimed solo show I Died...I Came Back...Whatever. As with that show, this production has a much deeper personal meaning.

"Many of us have been sexually assaulted or know at least one person who has, which is why Heidi and I both feel very connected and passionate about this," McClairian said. "I have personally been raped twice by men in power. Assault survivors have been silenced for so long, feeling ashamed, like we were to blame for it in some way. We had to hide and deal with it all on our own. It is time to speak up and fight back. The key is connection. If we can help even one person, if we can raise awareness, then we will have been successful."

Fearless Imp will follow up Macbeth with The Importance of Being Oscar, an original work that examines Oscar Wilde's final moments, at this year's Hollywood Fringe Festival and the Shepard classic True West, headed by Martin, McClairian's husband and business partner and a veteran director, actor and producer for the last 20 plus years. More information on Macbeth and Fearless Imp Entertainment can be found at https://www.facebook.com/events/1481258821996259/