Lady M: A Ballet

A new interpretation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth

Ryo Suzuki & Brienne Wiltsie in Lady M. Photography by Bill Brymer.

Lady M, a feminist retelling of Shakespeare's Macbeth, was commissioned by the Louisville Ballet for performance at the 2023 Shakespeare in Dance Series and the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival. Music for the ballet was composed by Dana Kaufman for the violin and piano duo Room to Spare, as well as the Louisville Leopard Percussionists, a local children’s percussion ensemble.

Lady M was choreographed by Roger Creel and performed by the Louisville Ballet from August 2-6, 2023 at the C. Douglas Ramey Amphitheater in Louisville’s Central Park. The ballet also includes selections by Kent Klarer, Ary Barosso, Carly Johnson, Rebirth Brass Band, Stevie Wonder, and Joe Zawinul.

Instrumentation:

Percussion Ensemble (Louisville Leopard Percussionists):
-Drum Set
-Concert Bass Drum
-Concert Snare Drum
-Xylophone
-2 Marimbas
-1 Vibraphone
-Keyboard

Pre-Recorded Violin and Piano (Room to Spare):
-3 Violin
-1 Piano

Selected Scenes and sample Scores:

Lady M: Scene 4

Lady M: Scene 6

Lady M: Scene 17

Lady M: Scene 27

Photography by Bill Brymer.

Production and Development Partners

  • Louisville Leopard Percussionists

  • Room to Spare (violin and piano duo)

  • Louisville Ballet 

  • Kentucky Shakespeare Festival

  • Shakespeare in Dance Series

Full performance Video

Commissioned by the Louisville Ballet for performance at the Shakespeare in Dance Series and the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival

Choreography by Roger Creel

August 2-6, 2023