A group of young actors rehearsing a production of Macbeth find their roles are at once reflecting and shaping their personalities in Macbeth in Manhattan. Claudia (Gloria Reuben) and Max (David Lansbury) are a couple living together who both audition for an upcoming New York production of Macbeth. They win the leading roles, but the director (John Glover) decides to recast the title character when a better-known actor, William (Nick Gregory), becomes available, and Max is instead given a smaller role as Macduff. Soon the tensions and interpersonal dramas offstage begin to parallel the events of Shakespeare's Scottish tragedy. Female lead Gloria Reuben will be a familiar face to fans of the TV series E.R., while two other cast members come from notable theatrical families; David Lansbury is the nephew of actress Angela Lansbury, while Nick Gregory's father is noted actor and director André Gregory.