The Gainesville Theatre Alliance (GTA) is set to captivate audiences with two highly anticipated performances this spring, featuring timeless tales and celebrated stories.
First up, GTA will bring William Shakespeare’s Macbeth to the stage, running from February 14 to February 22 in the Hosch Theatre at Brenau University, located at 429 Academy St. NE in Gainesville, Georgia. The production promises to deliver a gripping interpretation of the Scottish tragedy, filled with ambition, betrayal, and supernatural intrigue.
Later this spring, GTA will welcome the uproarious comedy Young Frankenstein to the Ed Cabell Theatre at the University of North Georgia’s Gainesville campus. Audiences can catch the production from April 11 to April 19, as they enjoy the signature wit of Mel Brooks’ iconic musical adaptation of the classic 1974 film.
Both productions are expected to provide unique and engaging theater experiences for local audiences this semester.
The University of North Georgia (UNG) and Brenau University’s partnership in the Georgia Theatre Alliance (GTA) provides students with unparalleled hands-on experience in theatre production.
Regular ticket prices for performances range from $17.50 to $25.50, with discounted $5 tickets available to UNG faculty, staff, and students. Faculty and staff can use promo code NIGHTHAWK, while students can use the code UNGSPRING25. Student tickets go on sale 10 days before opening night of each play.
GTA’s collaboration is nationally recognized and offers students an opportunity to gain a broad range of experience, including acting, assistant directing, ushering, stage management, costume and makeup design, stage design, and more.
“The versatility is great. They want you to do all of it,” Eric Cavese, a sophomore from Cumming, Georgia, pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in theatre arts with a focus in scenic design, said. “There are a lot of different, intricate, little parts working together to create a common product.”
GTA’s artistic director, Zechariah Pierce, who is also the associate director of theatre in UNG’s School of Communication, Film & Theatre, emphasizes the importance of offering students varied roles.
“Actors don’t always get cast. Would you rather work at Starbucks or adjacent to the industry? These other roles allow actors to meet collaborators for their next job,” Pierce said. “They need to be a well-rounded artist. We are giving them a wider swath of experience.”
Megan Carr, a junior from Monroe, Georgia, pursuing a B.F.A. in theatre arts with concentrations in acting, stage management, and direction, highlighted the program’s “choose your own adventure” nature. This semester, she is the assistant director for Macbeth, working alongside director Sheri Wilson, a faculty member.
“A lot of the opportunities I’ve been given have been half luck and half putting myself out there,” Carr said. “You can be talented and have these things you’re good at, but you need to put in the work and really show that you’re willing to work for anything you want to do, especially in theatre.”
Ben Perrin, a senior from Cleveland, Georgia, will take the stage as the title character in the upcoming production of Macbeth at Georgia Theatre Arts (GTA). Perrin, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts, is excited about the opportunity to embody the complex role of Shakespeare’s tragic hero.
He shared his appreciation for the collaborative environment GTA fosters, highlighting the program’s focus on both professionalism and a supportive, fun atmosphere.
“The best part about GTA is the connectivity you have. So much of the art world is about who you know and what connections you’re going to make. And a lot of that can be daunting,” Perrin said. “GTA really promotes professionalism while keeping that fun spirit alive. You know all of your peers really well.”
GTA’s upcoming Macbeth is a gripping tale of ambition, power, and downfall. The production follows Macbeth, a valiant Scottish general, who encounters three witches that predict he will rise to become Thane of Cawdor and eventually King of Scotland.
Driven by these prophecies, Macbeth and his wife embark on a bloody path of murder and deceit, ultimately spiraling toward madness and ruin. Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy explores the destructive effects of unchecked ambition.
In addition to Macbeth, GTA’s season will also feature Young Frankenstein, a monster musical comedy adapted from the iconic film by Mel Brooks, the creator of The Producers. The show follows Frederick Frankenstein, the grandson of the infamous Victor Frankenstein, as he inherits the family estate in Transylvania and attempts to bring his own monster to life with the help of a quirky sidekick and a leggy lab assistant.
Both productions promise to showcase the talent and creativity that GTA is known for.
