“MACBETH THEATER IS ABOUT EMPOWERING ARTISTS AND EMBRACING THE D.I.Y. Mentality.”

-BRIAN BARTELS, OWNER & FOUNDER

Photo by Ratdawgkilla, 2022.

MISSION.

Our mission is to provide pathways towards accessible careers in entertainment and empower artists to have autonomy over what they create.

VISION.

Our vision is to foster community by strengthening local alternative scenes across the nation and create norms within the music industry that place the power back in the hands of artists.

values

  • Creators should own what they produce and maintain full control over their creative output. We believe the most impactful art is unrestricted, voluntary, and inspired.

  • The arts should exist as a means of bringing people together. We prioritize building strong, supportive communities that value personal connections over the art itself.

  • The alternative scene should celebrate diversity. We believe art thrives when everyone brings something unique to the table.

  • Art should be inclusive and accessible to all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.  We believe that barriers to entry stifle innovation, while an inclusive scene brings people together and encourages collaboration and creativity.

  • Our habits, traditions, practices, and procedures should be sustainable and eco-forward. We believe it is our responsibility to protect the planet and all its inhabitants.

  • Everyone should have the opportunity to learn free from cultural, institutional, or socioeconomic barriers. We believe communities thrive when all people have access to high-quality education and opportunities for growth.

  • A healthy scene should embrace critical thinking, rationality, and logic-based reasoning. We believe that hive minds, echo chambers, and cult-like mentalities diminish the unique ability art has to allow us to view the world through more than a single lens.

  • A healthy scene should embrace honesty, transparency, and authenticity. We believe that art is most impactful when it is genuine, and that a commitment to truth allows us to make informed decisions and gain trust for one another in a tight-knit community.

  • We should always presume positive intent amongst our peers without a compelling reason to infer otherwise. We believe that making assumptions, anticipating malice, and projecting intent act as barriers to productive discourse and to a supportive community.

  • We should treat each other with respect, dignity, and understanding. We believe that a broader worldview rooted in empathy for all beings strengthens our community by extending kindness and positivity to ourselves and to others.

HISTORY

COMING SOON.

faqs

  • Since the outbreak of COVID-19, Macbeth Theater has not operated as a physical event space—but our passion for creating unique and impactful experiences remains strong. We've continued to host events at trusted third-party DIY venues across the country, keeping the spirit of Macbeth Theater alive!

  • Macbeth Theater pokes fun at the superstitious belief that saying the word "Macbeth" inside of a theater or venue causes bad luck. In the D.I.Y. scene, we throw ourselves into what we love--even if we are told we are destined to fail!

  • The Macbeth Theater Music Collective is not currently accepting new artists at this time, though we encourage creators who are interested in representing Macbeth Theater by joining the label to reach out to us directly. We will keep you in mind for when an opening is available!

  • Macbeth Theater is dedicated to what we call alternative performance art—live entertainment that resonates with unconventional and niche audiences. We proudly book, promote, and sign a diverse range of artists, including one-man-bands, prop comics, burlesque artists, drag performers, improvisational playwrights, underground rappers, hardcore bands, spoken word poets...and many more! If you've struggled to find your place in the scene, Macbeth Theater is here to serve you.