By JENNIFER BRETT

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Shakespeare has been read, studied, interpreted, translated and performed countless times over the centuries, but for some reason no one ever thought to render it live with a series of voices from “The Simpsons.”

Fortunately, Rick Miller has fixed that.

Inspiration struck back in 1994 when the Canadian actor and comedian was performing in a production of Macbeth. (By “performing,” we mean he had a couple of lines in his show-stopping role as Murderer No. 2). Given the time on his hands, he quickly mastered all of the dialogue and then to amuse his fellow cast members, started reciting them in different Simpson voices. Fast-forward to the present, and Miller has taken his quirky version of the Bard’s classic all over the globe, including the Fringe arts festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, where Simpsons creator Matt Groening was in the audience.

He brings it here this week, beginning Wednesday.

Q: Scholars have debated this for years, so we’ll ask you, too. What does Homer Simpson have in common with Macbeth?

A: Homer’s certainly not the brightest. He’s a bit of a coward. He’s lazy. He’s not necessarily wanting to kill someone. He’s mainly motivated by food.

Q: Is your production an amusement for Shakespeare fans or an introduction to Shakespeare for Simpsons fans?

A: They’re both passionate. I tour a lot of high schools and I play to people who have never stepped foot into a theater. But three-fourths of the words are from Shakespeare. I only added ones like exxxcellent and okely dokely! People tend to dismiss the Simpsons as a dumb cartoon. It really is brilliant. It’s very smart and also very funny. And Shakespeare was an entertainer. If there had been merchandising back then, he would have sold little Hamlet dolls.

Q: Are you planning to translate other Shakespeare plays into Simpsons speak?

A: I don’t want to be the guy who does that. I don’t want to be pigeon-holed. Although I have thought of titles: “Mmm. HAMlet.” Or “King Beer.” or “Othell-D’oh!”

Q: Do you identify with any of the Simpsons characters?

A: I love Moe the bartender. He’s such a letch, but he’s really the kind of guy who volunteers at the soup kitchen in secret. I’d aspire to be Lisa, who is the conscience of the show, but I’m not a little girl and I don’t have pointy hair.

Q: How about any of the characters in “Macbeth?” Have you killed anyone?

A: Um, no. I’m probably closer to Hamlet, without all the family drama. I do like to watch a good play every now and again.

MacHomer, written and performed by Rick Miller

7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday; 10 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Georgia Shakespeare, Conant Performing Arts Center at Oglethorpe University, 4484 Peachtree Rd. NE. Tickets from $15 to $45. A “MacHomer Brew Party” follows the Friday performance. Tickets to the show and party are $50 in advance or $65 at the door. Group discounts available. 404-264-0020, www.gashakespeare.org.