This year’s Charlotte Shakespeare Festival will wrap up with murder, mayhem and blood in the post-apocalyptic world of Elise Wilkinson’s reinterpreted “Macbeth.”  Performances run from August 15-25 at the Booth Playhouse in Founder’s Hall. In its eighth season, the Charlotte Shakespeare Festival will continue its pre-show series and admission by donation.

The Festival’s “Macbeth” (also known as “the Scottish play” to superstitious types who believe it’s bad luck to say the name of the play in a theater) stars Christian Casper and Gretchen McGinty as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth with a total ensemble of 21 actors—the Festival’s largest cast ever. Casper recently led Charlotte Shakespeare in the directing of June’s “Taming of the Shrew,” and McGinty has played several roles with Charlotte Shakespeare, including Cordelia in the 2011 production of “King Lear” and Grace in the 2012 production of “Opus.” Casper plans to bring a multi-leveled, emotional interpretation of Macbeth to the stage, while McGinty plays up Lady Macbeth’s passionate ambition.

Christian Casper (Macbeth) and Gretchen McGinty (Lady Macbeth). Photography by Austin Caine

Charlotte Shakespeare’s production of “Macbeth” runs from August 15-25 as part of the Charlotte Shakespeare Festival. Show times are Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sundays at 3 p.m.Tickets are pay-what-you-can, with a $5 suggested donation. Performances will take place at the Booth Playhouse at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center (Founders Hall), 100 N. Tryon St., Charlotte; 704-372-1000; www.blumenthalarts.org. For more information, contact Charlotte Shakespeare at 704-625-1288 or visit www.charlotteshakespeare.com.