STAR-CROSSED To Have Industry Reading At The Dramatists Guild Foundation

A developmental reading of STAR-CROSSED: A Gender-Defying R & J in Verse & Beats will take place at the Dramatists Guild Foundation on Saturday, November 2nd, 2024. This electrifying reimagining of Romeo & Juliet by playwright, actor, and educator Daniel Robert Sullivan targets teenage actors and high school theatres, offering them a fresh way to connect with classic themes through modern rhythms and customizable, genre-bending music.

With 17 roles that can be portrayed as any gender, STAR-CROSSED encourages inclusivity and creative expression, allowing for optional ensemble members and even a live DJ. Featuring a runtime of 90 minutes (with a 60-minute option), STAR-CROSSED is designed for adaptability without compromising on its vibrant energy or the emotional intensity of Shakespeare's original plotting.

The Dramatists Guild Foundation reading will be led by Michelle Ray (The Book of Mormon) as Jules and Saleemah Sharpe (PlayMakers Repertory) as Romy, with support by dynamic group of principals including Jasmine Michelle Smith (SIX the Musical) as Tiger/Nova, Ryan Kim as Elder Lumen, Nathaniel J. Ryan as Mercury/Gemini, Stephanie Colavito as Pluto/Elder Juno, Noor Hamdi as Phoenix/Pisces, Britta Rae as Aries/Aquarius, Alyssa Maitoza as Borealis, Eli Lomax as M. Montague, Zane Michael as M.Capulet, and Nino Ruggeri as Mx. Capulet.

"I'm thrilled to have assembled such a forceful, truthful, playful group of actors for this initial presentation," says Sullivan. "The themes of Romeo & Juliet could not be more important today, and the rhymes and modern music in STAR-CROSSED aim to create an accessible way of wrestling with these universal struggles."

STAR-CROSSED makes Shakespeare's timeless story new again with the innovative use of rhyming couplets, designed to give directors and students the flexibility to present it as a traditional verse drama or a musical. Each scene has original, licensable music that complement Sullivan's verse or can inspire student-led beat creation, further emphasizing the play's adaptability.

Initial demo recordings of STAR-CROSSED are available on YouTube.

Daniel Robert Sullivan is an advocate for accessible theatre who has a longstanding commitment to creating work that speaks directly to youth. Sullivan is known for Prospect High: Brooklyn and Lockdown: Await Further Instructions, both of which have been successfully staged by schools across the nation. STAR-CROSSED marks his latest endeavor to create relevant, performable pieces that empower young actors with flexible options to showcase their own talents. In addition to his published plays, he has written Braving the Bronx River: A 23-Mile Kayak from Westchester to Rikers Island and performed in Dear Evan Hansen, Jersey Boys, and Motown the Musical.