The purpose of this production is to inspire youth to learn and know Shakespeare, and be an aide to memorizing his text, through song. "S3" is the entire Balcony Scene, sung verbatim start to end. This newest version and workshop performance is performed by all high school actors!
A musical adaptation of the famous “Balcony Scene” from Romeo & Juliet, “Such Sweet Sorrow” is the name of our fictitious singing competition show, a la The Voice or American Idol, with the teenage contestants up for the roles of Romeo and Juliet, who will star in the upcoming Broadway smash hit, “Romeo and Juliet Rocks!”, a rock-pop opera. The contestants “battle-sing” each other using the verbatim Shakespeare words from start to end, taking turns getting eliminated until the final Romeo & Juliet is revealed. Then we get a sneak peak into what the real Broadway production would look like, complete with opening Prologue “Two Households, both alike in dignity...” There’s even a [few] budding on-set romances, to mirror our Romeos & Juliets here in 2018.
The show’s themes focus on identity, social interaction, friendly competition, belonging, community, and of course, young love, and with a spotlight on their talent. Paired with some surprisingly catchy “tunes”, “Such Sweet Sorrow”, is a fast-paced musical ride that should be classic “edutainment” fun!
This will be the first time the evolving Workshop of Such Sweet Sorrow is performed by actual high school students, or rather, very close to the intended age ranges of Romeo and Juliet. We expect that the nature of many schools being involved will break down walls and rivalries, and bring the arts and theatre students, (those who display extreme potential, passion and discipline for their craft) together to form valuable and lasting bonds as they move forward into their lives and become a strong network to each other.
"Such Sweet Sorrow" (by William Shakespeare and Chris Wade) is being presented by the Riverside Unified School District as their inaugural Honors Theatre Program, with special thanks to the City of Riverside, Live Nation and the Fox Performing Arts Center. "S3" will play one full performance at The Fox at 10am on Wednesday Feb 21st for 1500 students (Middle-High Schools) in the RUSD. This free performance is also open to the public, with limited seating available. There is also another free performance that night (Wed Feb 21st) at 7pm at John W. North Little Theatre in Riverside. www.chriswademusic.com/such-sweet-sorrow
Chris Wade - Composer/Book Writer
Michelle Grotness - Director
Dominique Simone - Choroeographer
Annemarie Guzy - Curator/Producer, RUSD
Janie Hilland - Conductor/Music Superviser
Patricia Scarborough - Shakespeare Coach/Costumes
Anna Hightower - Theatrical Facilitator
Chris MarkerMorse - Theatrical Facilitator
CAST:
Romeos & Juliets:
Arianna Vila
Cameron Webb
Tessa McCormick
Kenson Gomez
Gabriela Anger
Avery Hansberger
Julianne Westbrook
Eric Bruno
Veronica Driscoll
Greg Aguilar
Kaiah Costa
Jamien Brown
Caroline Younglove
Yair Pineda
Mia Prisco
Dancers/Ensemble:
Gilbert Blackston
Nathan Bravo
Jordyn O’Rourke
Jose A.
Diana Ortiz
John Naranjo
MacKenzie Gallager
Lila Morales
Caytana Fyc-Stroger
Videos
Wish You Were Here
South Coast Repertory's Julianne Argyros Stage (1/12 - 2/2) | ||
RACHMANINOFF AND THE TSAR
South Coast Repertory (2/19 - 3/2) | ||
Batiashvili Plays Beethoven
Walt Disney Concert Hall (1/3 - 1/5) | ||
Cody Fry with Orchestra
Walt Disney Concert Hall (1/10 - 1/10) | ||
FARM HALL by Katherine Moar
Promenade Playhouse (1/10 - 1/26) NEW PLAY | ||
New Year's Eve with D-Nice & Friends
Walt Disney Concert Hall (12/31 - 12/31) | ||
Drat! The Cat!
The Group Rep at the Lonny Chapman Theatre (3/21 - 4/27) | ||
Nuncrackers: The Nunsense Christmas Musical
Desert Theatreworks (12/6 - 12/29) | ||
Gil Shaham Weekend - Two Concerts, Two Different Programs
The Granada Theatre (5/18 - 5/18) | ||
The String Quartets of Philip Glass - Brooklyn Rider
Bram Goldsmith Theater at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (1/17 - 1/17) | ||
Elements and Energy with John Adams
Walt Disney Concert Hall (1/28 - 1/28) | ||
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