The Hilberry Theatre to Stage ROMEO AND JULIET, 10/24-12/13

The Hilberry Theatre's 52nd season continues with William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, returning to the Hilberry stage for the first time since 2006. The production plays from October 24 to December 13, 2014, with additional student matinees scheduled throughout early 2015. Tickets range from $10 - $31 and can be purchased by calling the box office at
(313) 577-2972, online at Hilberry.com, or in person at 4743 Cass Avenue on the corner of Hancock Street.

Director Blair Anderson and the production team offer a fresh, contemporary take on Shakespeare's well-known tale of Verona's star-crossed lovers. Anderson emphasizes "young love" as a theme, with a specific focus on Juliet's interpretation of the events. Tonae Mitsuhasi, a second year student in the Hilberry program, creates an immersive scenic design resembling a large art installation that fills the entire theatre.

Anderson returns to directing on the Hilberry stage following last season's successful shows Moon Over Buffalo, Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde, and Big Love. He is a long-time Wayne State faculty member, whose directing highlights include Hamlet, Great Expectations, Scapin, The Tempest, Translations, Brighton Beach Memoirs, and A Winter's Tale.

The Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance continues its commitment to arts education with this production. A season-long morning matinee series furthers the Hilberry's tradition of introducing classic theatre to students within the greater metro Detroit community. Performances of Shakespeare's Macbeth during the 2013-14 season reached over 3,000 middle and high school students.

Cast (in alphabetical order):

Bevin Bell-Hall (Benvolia), Miles Boucher (Romeo), Devri Chism (Juliet), Julian David Colletta (Balthasar), Santino Craven (Tybalt/Apothecary), Brandon Grantz (Mercutio/Friar John), Logan Hart (Sampson/Watchmen), Kyle Mitchell Johnson (Prince/Peter), Danté Jones (Understudy-Friar Larence), Annie Keris (Lady Montague), Michael Manocchio (Paris), Sarah Hawkins Moan (Nurse), Taylor Morrow (Dancer), Chris Peterson (Abram/Page), Brandy Joe Plambeck (Friar Lawrence), Mary Sansone (Gregory), Kendall Rose Talbot (Dancer), Michael Phillip Thomas (Capulet), Tiffany Michelle Thompson (Lady Capulet)

Production Team:

Blair Anderson (Director), Sarah Drum (Stage Manager), Allison Baker (Asst. Stage Manager), Tonae Mitsuhashi (Scenic Design), Anne Suchyta (Costume Designer), Heather DeFauw (Lighting Design), Mario Raymond (Sound Designer), Brian Dambacher (Technical Director), Stephanie Baugher (Properties Master), David Sterritt (Fight Choreographer), Kevin Replinger (Publicist), JP Hitesman (Asst. Publicist)

About the Hilberry Theatre Company: Wayne State University's Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance serves students as a nexus of performance, production, and research in the fields of theatre and dance. It provides a wide choice of degree programs that allow students the flexibility to study these disciplines broadly or to concentrate more specifically in performance, design, or management.

The Hilberry Theatre hosts a professional theatre company that is staffed by graduate students and runs on a rotating repertory schedule. Each academic year, about forty graduate students receive assistantships to work for the Hilberry Theatre and study for advanced degrees. The company performs and produces an annual season of six plays, including high school matinees for nearly 6,000 students. For box office hours and information on performances, tickets, group discounts, and corporate packages, visit the theatre's website at Hilberry.com.

Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution offering more than 370 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 29,000 students.

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