PCPA Theaterfest Presents ROMEO & JULIET, 4/19-5/13

Romeo & Juliet, Shakespeare's most popular romantic tragedy of two star crossed lovers, plays in the Marian Theatre April 19 - May 13, 2012.

Director Patricia M. Troxel said the excitement of this production lies in the 'radical' choice of setting the play in the period of its original conception. "There is great power in the Renaissance world that can particularly inform our understanding of the romance, the violence, the passion, the compassion, and the lyrical beauty of this powerful love story." This will be the third time Troxel has directed Romeo and Juliet. Other directing credits include last season's Caroline, or Change and Peter Pan, as well as, Sylvia, Macbeth, Distracted, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Weir, and 11 seasons of PCPA's play reading series InterPlay. 

The cast features 2nd Year Acting Student Shae Palic as Juliet and Acting Intern J.R. Yancher as Romeo. Also, PCPA Resident Artists Michael Jenkinson* as Escalus, Prince of Verona, Peter S. Hadres* as Lord Montague, Erik Stein* as Lord Capulet, Karin Hendricks as Lady Capulet, Quinn Mattfeld* as Mercutio, Evans Eden Jarnefeldt as Benvolio, Andrew Philpot* as Friar Lawrence, and Elizabeth Stuart* as Nurse. 

The production team includes Fight Choreography by Mark Booher, Scenic Design by DeAnne Kennedy, Costume Design by Cheryl Odom, Lighting Design by Tamar Geist, and Sound Design by Elisabeth Rebel. The Production Stage Manager is Christine Collins*. 

Romeo and Juliet’s title and themes populate dozens of ballets and operas, along with untold numbers of music and fine art interpretations. It has inspired countless theatrical stagings and more than 60 TV and film adaptations. Perhaps, the most recent retelling of R&J comes in the sci-fi comic book, Romeo and Juliet: The War, where two groups of superhuman soldiers have created the Empire of Verona, the most powerful territory on earth. The Montagues are powerful cyborgs while the Capulets are genetically enhanced humans. 

This play was written between 1594 and 1596, which was an extremely productive time for Shakespeare. In addition to his writing of sonnets, he was also working on Love’s Labours Lost, Richard II, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream during this period. Troxel said these works share a lyric quality and a powerful examination of the relationship between public behavior and private desire. "They also remind us of the joy of resolved conflict and the price of an unresolved one." 

*Member, Actors’ Equity Association

Single Tickets: call the box office - (805) 922-8313 - between 12:30 and 7pm Wednesday through Sunday, or visit www.pcpa.org.

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