☞ REMEMBER: Voodoo Macbeth at the Lafayette

What's left of the old Lafayette Theatre might be demolished soon so we are reprinting this previous article so folks don't forget what it meant to Harlem's cultural history.  Check out Harlem historian Jonathan Gill's insight on the Lafayette in the previous post: LINK

A brilliant production of Macbeth was shown at the Lafayette Theatre back in 1936 that would place Harlem theater on the national stage along with the career of a young, talented director. Orson Welles received some major notoriety by taking this version of Macbeth and setting it in Haiti while keeping to the original Shakespeare script. This play would also be known as Voodoo Macbeth and attract 10,000 locals to line the streets  for the premier night at the 1,223 seat theater. The production would eventually have an extended run and tour the country after its Harlem success.  Photo via Library of Congress