TheaterWorks Launches 24th Season with SHAKESPEARE'S R&J, 11/12-12/20

TheaterWorks Launches its 24th Season with "Shakespeare's R&J", a provocative adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, running November 12th through December 20th. Called "electrifying", "magical", "inspired", and "dreamlike", "Shakespeare's R&J" is Romeo and Juliet as it has never been seen before. Set in the repressed atmosphere of a modern Catholic boarding school, this brave and original adaptation spins the tale of "star-cross'd lovers" into a journey of astonishing discoveries.

"Shakespeare's R&J", adapted by Joe Calarco, runs November 12 through December 20, 2009 at TheaterWorks in Downtown Hartford's City Arts on Pearl at 233 Pearl Street. The play kicks off TheaterWorks' five-play 2009-2010 season, the company's 24th year.

"Shakespeare's R&J" is directed by Rob Ruggiero and stars Adam Barrie, Ashley Robinson, Paul Terzenbach, and TJ Linnard. The production design team includes Brian Prather (sets), Matthew Richards (lighting) and Vincent Olivieri (sound). Production Manager is Michael Lenaghan.

"Shakespeare's R&J" spins the classic story of history's most famous doomed lovers into a modern tale of teenage awakening. The play explores youthful desires, vulnerability and burgeoning sexuality as four students at a repressive preparatory school discover Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. As the schoolboys find themselves immersed in the tragic story of forbidden love, they assume the roles of all the play's characters and the tale begins to blur with their own lives and Shakespeare's verse is heard anew.

"Shakespeare's R & J" has enjoyed hugely successful, critically acclaimed runs both off Broadway and on London's West End. Hailed as "a vibrant, hot-blooded new adaptation of Romeo and Juliet that pulsates with an adolescent abandon and electricity" by The New York Times and an "exploration of passion and repression in both Shakespeare's time and our own" by Variety, Joe Calarco's revisionist tale of love and discovery continues to speak to audiences around the globe.

Joe Calarco's published works include Shakespeare's R&J (Lucille Lortel Award) and in the absence of spring. Other adaptations: A Midsummer Nights Dream (The Shakespeare Theatre), and Antigone (London's National Theatre). As resident playwright at Expanded Arts, Inc. in NYC his works included Isolated Incidents, Watershed, and Separate Rooms. He is book writer for the musicals Golden Gate and The Mysteries of Harris Burdick (Barrington Stage), and was a contributing book writer on The Audience for The Transport Group. Mr. Calarco is currently writing the book for the musicals Home Front and The Last Days of Cleopatra. His work for young audiences includes Arabian Nights: Aladdin (Hangar Theatre), and My Vacation in Paris, Salat, Civil Wars, and Aftershock, all for Signature Theatre in Virginia. His latest play, Walter Cronkite is Dead, has had readings at Signature Theater and Geva Theater. As a director he has won four Helen Hayes Awards. Upcoming directing projects include The Light in the Piazza at Philadelphia Theatre and The Burnt Part Boys at Playwrights Horizons.

Rob Ruggiero (Director) has been a key partner in TheaterWorks' artistic leadership since 1992 where he has directed dozens of productions including: Dead Man's Cell Phone, No Child..., Rabbit Hole, The Little Dog Laughed, Driving Miss Daisy, and the highly successful Ella, which he conceived and developed and has been seen at over 20 regional theaters nationwide. At TheaterWorks he also conceived and developed a musical review based on the work of William Finn entitled Make Me A Song, which received its New York Premiere Off-Broadway at New World Stages (Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations) and debuted in London in 2008. Make Me A Song also won him the Connecticut Critics Circle Award for Best Director of a Musical. Rob recently directed the World Premiere of Matthew Lombardo's new play Looped at Pasadena Playhouse, The Cuillo Center and Arena Stage. He directed highly successful revivals of 1776 and Big River (which both garnered him Connecticut Critics Circle Awards) as well as the recent Camelot at Goodspeed Musicals.

Four exceptional young actors bring all of the characters to life in TheaterWorks' production of "Shakespeare's R&J".

Adam Barrie (Student 1) is a recent graduate of Carnegie Mellon University. His theater credits
include Don Carlos (Don Carlos), Frank Townley (The London Cockolds), Shadow (The Other Shore), Commissioner (Accidental/Anarchist), Lodovico (The White Devil), Banquo (Macbeth), and Romeo (Romeo and Juliet).

Ashley Robinson (Student 2) is a graduate of University of North Carolina School of the Arts. His theater credits include Jett (Michael John LaChiusa's GIANT), Ensemble/Fiyero u/s (Wicked), Richard (Take Me Along), Lon (Meet Me In St. Louis), Dylan Thomas (A Child's Christmas in Wales), Claude (Hair), Floyd (Floyd Collins), Man 4 (The Good War), Feste (Twelfth Night), Lucky (Waiting for Godot), and Billy (Cripple of Inishmaan).

Paul Terzenbach (Student 3) received his B.F.A from The Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. Past roles include Tommy (Empirical), Benvolio (Romeo and Juliet at RTC),
Henry V (Henry V), and Autolycus (The Winters Tale at Shakespeare's Globe Theater in London).

TJ Linnard (Student 4) earned his B.F.A from SUNY Purchase Acting Conservatory. Past roles include Shannon (The Night of the Iguana), Florizel (The Winter's Tale), Tartaglia (The Green Bird), Rick (Six Degrees of Separation), Monsewer (The Hostage), and E.E. Cummings (The Moon's a Balloon).

"Shakespeare's R&J" runs November 12 through December 20, 2009 at TheaterWorks at City Arts on Pearl - 233 Pearl Street in Downtown Hartford (wheelchair accessible).Performances are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. with weekend matinees at 2:30 p.m. (The play opens to press on Friday, November 20, 2009 at 8:00 p.m.)

Seats for "Shakespeare's R&J" are $38 for weeknights and matinees; $48 for Friday and Saturday evenings. Seating is general admission. Center reserved seats are $12 extra. College-age student rush tickets are $12 at show time with valid school ID (subject to availability). Discounts are available for groups of 12 or more. Subscriptions for TheaterWorks' entire five play 2009-2010 season are now available for $124 - less than $25 per play.

For complete information and reservations, call TheaterWorks at (860) 527-7838. Visit TheaterWorks at www.theaterworkshartford.org.

Discounted parking is available to TheaterWorks' patrons for $5 at CityPlace Garage (diagonally up Pearl Street from TheaterWorks) or the outdoor A & A Lot (corner of Asylum and Ann Street, across from Mayor Mike's Bistro).

A completely free matinee for college students and faculty is offered on Saturday, November 28th at 2:30 p.m. TheaterWorks "ALL-FREE" matinee is sponsored by Bank of America.

Free seats for select performances of "Shakespeare's R&J" are available to young people ages 16 - 18 thanks to Lincoln Financial Foundation.

TheaterWorks' Season is sponsored by Aetna. TheaterWorks' City Arts Producer is United Technologies. Free tickets for high school students courtesy of Lincoln Financial Foundation. The Gallery of American Art is sponsored by The Hartford. TheaterWorks also receives support from the Greater Hartford Arts Council, Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism, Travelers, and Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.