Match: Lit Returns To The Stage With William Shakespeare's ROMEO AND JULIET

This winter, New York's up-and-coming Shakespeare company Match: Lit presents one of William Shakespeare most classic tales, Romeo & Juliet. The production is directed by Phoebe Brooks (Spicy Witch Productions) and is produced by Match: Lit's Artistic Director, Kristin Sgarro. The production will open Wednesday, February 13 and close Sunday, February 17.

Another intimate production, Match: Lit's Romeo & Juliet uses just ten actors and examines the roles of miscommunication and liability within Verona's three most prominent families. As one of the Bard's most often-staged works, they've also staged the piece in the round-and it moves swiftly in and around the audience, largely utilizing symbolic movement in place of sets. The life of the play takes place in the heart of Verona and is exuberant, queer, and uniquely Italian.

"We're excited to be working on Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet at this cultural moment because it directly addresses issues of societal fracture and communal grief," says director Phoebe Brooks. "In particular, this play explores the transformative effect that tragedy has on the life of a small town. Above all, this story is an exploration of human connection and joy despite its violent ends."

Match: Lit began in 2015 with an unprecedented light and airy version of William Shakespeare's Macbeth. They subsequently marched into 2016 with a 1980s-inspired Taming of the Shrew, which quickly netted twice as many sales as their first production, and followed up with Shakespeare's arguably most tragic work, Othello. They have since launched their BARDcore reading series: fall and spring Shakespeare readings over trivia at a bar, meant to unite all "Shakesnerds."

"This text is truly special: there's no question delving in as to why this story is performed over and over again," says Artistic Director, Kristin Sgarro, who also plays Romeo. "The symmetry, the foreshadowing, and the themes are all so gorgeously illustrated. But everyone knows the gist of this play; and even if you don't, the Prologue tells you at the top of the show exactly what happens. So my challenge to the artistic team was this: why would any audience stay when they already know the spoilers? Now, I'll admit that I'd like the audience to come and find this out on their own! But, appropriately, Match: Lit's slogan is 'Shakespeare in a new light,' and it really comes through in this piece."

Tickets are $18 in advance and available online at http://www.MLRandJ.brownpapertickets.com. Tickets at the door are $20.