Macbeth

George Bernard Shaw coined the expression: "He who can, does. He who cannot, teaches." And near the end of her life, when her voice failed, legendary soprano Maria Callas exemplified that notion by teaching a series of master classes at Juilliard.Playwright and Callas devotee Terrence McNally was in the audience at those classes, which form the basis for "Master Class," now at Washington's Kennedy Center prior to Broadway. But this latest script by last season's Tony Award-winning playwright is much more than a fictionalized transcription or a valentine to "La Divina" from an ardent fan. It is that rare example of a play that does what it is about: It not only professes the power of art, it demonstrates it.McNally wrote "Master Class" for Zoe Caldwell, and much of its power is due to the actress' tour-de-force, Tony-caliber transformation into Callas, under Leonard Foglia's direction.

Impersonating 50 different characters' voices, all created by Matt Groening - from Homer, Marge, Bart and Lisa to Mr. Burns, Ned Flanders, Krusty the Clown, Apu, Itchy and Scratchy - Miller indeed does The Simpsons doing Macbeth. And somehow he manages to retain 85 percent of Shakespeare's original writing. Homer, of course, stars in the title role, with Marge in the role of Lady Macbeth. Miller, a Toronto-based actor and writer, sought to honor the brilliance of Simpsons creator Groening and Shakespeare with this venture.

To alleviate traffic congestion on major roads in Carroll County's most populated area, the county must complete long-planned connector roads there, officials said at a public hearing yesterday that drew about 100 people to Liberty High School in Eldersburg.The county is moving ahead with plans to build several vital connectors, including MacBeth Way, which it has dubbed a priority project. Like many secondary roads, MacBeth goes through several neighborhoods that have sprouted in the 22 years since the original transportation plan for the area was written.

On May 12, 2009, Arthur Wilbur Brown A graveside service will be held on Friday at Franklin Memorial Park in Rocky Mount, VA. Arrangements by the CONNELLY FUNERAL HOME OF ESSEX. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Don MacBeth Memorial Jockey Fund, P.O. Box 18470, Encino, CA 91416 or at www.macbethfund.org.

FireSykesville: Firefighters from Gamber and Liberty Road in Baltimore County assisted Sykesville at 3: 50 p.m. Tuesday, responding to a house fire in the 7000 block of Macbeth Way. Units were out 35 minutes.Sykesville: Firefighters responded at 7: 40 p.m. Tuesday to a cleanup detail on Brandenburg Circle. Units were out 30 minutes.Pub Date: 8/29/96

FireEldersburg: Sykesville and West Friendship engines responded to a fire alarm on Obrecht Road at 5:25 p.m. Thursday. Units were out 10 minutes.Eldersburg: Sykesville engines responded to a brush fire in the 6600 block of Macbeth Way at 4:37 p.m. Thursday. Units were out about 30 minutes.Gamber: Gamber engines responded to a brush fire on Klees Mill Road at 1:15 p.m. Thursday. Units were out 13 minutes.

Starving and freezing on a garbage dump behind her owner's home, Sophia was only able to walk on her hind legs when she was rescued. Next week, she will star in the Shakespearan play "Macbeth," assuming the role of "Man's Best Friend. " Thanks to the Baltimore Humane Society, homeless dogs and cats will have the opportunity to star in famous productions throughout the year with The Baltimore Shakespeare Factory. The acting company is helping to get these animals adopted, giving them a full-page "actor's bio" in the playbill and providing the Baltimore Humane Society with an information table at each show.

This is a summer camp where acting out is applauded.Reciting lines in Elizabethan English onstage in a darkened theater at Morgan State University, 35 Baltimore youngsters are going to Shakespeare Summer Camp.The mix of ages, sizes and ethnicities is a testament to the universality of Shakespeare's plays: how they cut across time and distance to speak through the tongues of these actors, ages 8 to 16."This was my bright idea," said Maureen O'Neill, the 29-year-old camp director who enthusiastically exhorts the players through their lines as they rehearse a condensed "G-rated" "MacBeth" they will perform July 24 at the Baltimore Museum of Art."

The State Highway Administration is set to begin an $8.5 million construction project to improve safety and ease congestion for more than 30,000 drivers along Route 32 (Sykesville Road) between Route 26 (Liberty Road) and Macbeth Way/Piney Branch Parkway in Eldersburg. Weather permitting, the half-mile project should be completed by fall next year. As a county priority, the Carroll commissioners contributed $2.4 million to move the project forward. The project includes the installation of a full traffic signal at Route 32 and Macbeth Way to improve safety and help facilitate enhanced access to Route 32 between Macbeth Way and Piney Ridge Parkway.