GVT’s Macbeth opens this week
Greenbrier Valley Theatre’s (GVT) upcoming production of Macbeth features a real life couple playing the lead roles of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Jeff Ronan and Amy Jo Jackson take the stage playing an on-stage couple for the very first time.
“He’s my best friend, and I know him better and trust him more than anyone else on earth, which makes acting with him an absolute joy,” says Amy Jo. “We’ve worked together several times, but always in big ensemble shows in which we only exchanged a few lines here and there, so it’s been a delight to come home at night and talk about deepening our work together.”
“I absolutely agree with Amy Jo,” says Jeff. “It gave us a huge head start on building Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s relationship and helped me immediately lock into their bond. My only challenge has been reminding myself that just because we’re playing a married couple, we’re not just putting our own relationship on stage. Though there is real love between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, they can also be vicious to each other, and it was tricky at first to fully embrace the darker aspects in their scenes together.
This is Amy Jo’s first appearance at GVT, but Jeff has performed at GVT on several occasions. “This is my fourth time working at GVT after appearing in Little Shop of Horrors, Frankenstein, and Baskerville,” says Jeff. “It’s always so great to come back and see the community’s response to the shows. I love GVT’s programming: a wonderful combination of beloved favorites and exciting new works.”
Both Jeff and Amy Jo have a love for Shakespeare. “Shakespeare writes about such universal themes, that we still get swept up in Romeo and Juliet’s love, Hamlet’s quest for revenge, and even Macbeth’s murderous ambition,” says Jeff. “His characters have such wonderfully unexpected complexities, that it’s allowed for countless interpretations of the roles throughout the centuries.”
“Ultimately, the language is incredible, and the plays are so well-constructed that once you learn how to break down the text so you can bring it to life,” says Amy Jo. “It makes you better at acting every single other piece of material you’ll ever do.”
“Reflecting on why the work of Shakespeare has stood the test of time, Amy Jo sees the themes as universal during any time in history. Plenty of characters do morally dubious things in this play, not just Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, and you see that across all of Shakespeare’s plays,” says Amy Jo. “I think that’s a major reason they’ve stood the test of time – societies change, our moral panics change, but humans tend to do human things for human reasons, and we can each map our own contemporary understanding onto those actions.”
Macbeth will be presented at Greenbrier Valley Theatre, Oct. 17 through Nov. 1. For dates, times and tickets, visit https://gvtheatre.org/2025-season/.
About Greenbrier Valley Theatre:
Greenbrier Valley Theatre, The State Professional Theatre of West Virginia, is committed to its mission statement to create live, professional quality theatre in West Virginia and, through theatre, to enlighten, enrich, and enliven the life of our region.
Throughout each year, GVT produces first-class theatrical productions featuring professional actors. Additionally, Greenbrier Valley Theatre offers a successful after-school drama program, a summer camp for children and teens, live simulcasts of the Metropolitan Opera, special events and musical performances, lectures, discussions and workshops.
Learn more about GVT at www.gvtheatre.org.
