Auditions began Tuesday for Baker’s adaptation of the classic William Shakespeare play “Macbeth,” directed by Adjunct Instructor of Theater Rachel Roberts.

Even though the auditions were held Tuesday, auditions for major roles such as Macbeth and Macduff were held early during “The Complete History of America (abridged).” Junior Bob Linebarger said the roles were cast early because they are such important characters in the play.

Linebarger has been active in the theater department ever since he first came to Baker, but one of the biggest challenges of this play will be living up to the character of Macbeth himself.

“Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s great tragic heroes and that is a feat within itself,” Linebarger said.

Senior Kyle Dyck will be playing Macduff, but this will not be his first role in a Shakespeare play, as he was in “A Comedy of Errors” his sophomore year.

Dyck said he’s sure as an actor he is going to face a number of challenges in this play. The dialogue is difficult, for instance, because it is written in traditional Middle English, Dyck said.

“A challenge will be trying to keep my composure when a tyrant has taken everything from me,” he said.

Dyck said he has not had an opportunity to work much with Linebarger’s character Macbeth yet but he has heard only good things. Dyck said he always enjoys Shakespeare, and he is glad he’s been a part of his plays.

“A favorite thing for me is going to have to be the sword play,” Dyck said. “I have always liked stage combat.”

The majority of the students hoping for a role in the play attended auditions from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday in Rice Auditorium and then waited to see if their name made it on to the cast list.

Sophomore Olivia Hernandez said she was in shock when she saw she had been awarded the part of Lady Macbeth. Hernandez said it was the only role she wanted.

“I have never done Shakespeare before, but I have a willingness to learn,” she said.

Hernandez is majoring in political science and international studies, but she has been doing theater since she was in high school. She said she has been in four plays here at Baker.

Hernandez is looking forward to working with everyone and said the play has a really good cast.

“Most of the shows I have done have been contemporary with modern language,” she said. “Understanding what I am saying and why I am saying it will be the hard part.”

“Macbeth” opens at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 6. The show runs until Nov. 8 with an additional showing at 2:00 p.m. Nov. 9 in Rice Auditorium.