by William Shakespeare

March 31st – April 16th

This project is part of Shakespeare in American Communities, a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.

“For now these hot days, is the mad blood stirring...”
Romeo and Juliet, Act III, Scene I

Red and black ants are said to live peaceably together in a jar, until the jar is shaken; then, the different ants begin to attack and kill each other. Their response to their world being turned upside down is to draw conclusions about what hurt them and to defend their colony. I think humans may not be so different. Working with the centuries old text of Romeo and Juliet reminds me that it is the love we have for our own family/group/team that can bring us to blows with others, but also love that can make us reach across the divide that separates us. In the last years, our collective jar has been shaken in ways we’ve never known. We get to choose how we will respond, and how we will use the rage and love that is living in each of us. May we have the will to use love as a bridge even when it appears to be shaped like a weapon.

Romeo
Jake Dailey

Juliet
Destiny Freeman

Friar Laurence
Tyler Cramer

Tybalt/Paris
Garrett Houston

Benvolio
Libby Zabit

Mercutio/Apothecary
Sam McCalla

Nurse
Sarah Van Deusen

Lord Montague/Friar John
James Jiggetts

Lady Capulet
Kelly Strand

The Prince
Terrance Jackson

Director
Katy Brown

Set Designer
Derek Smith

Costume Designer
Lee Martin

Lighting Designer
Andy Morehouse

Sound Designer
Miles Polaski

Choreographer/Intimacy Coordinator
Ashley Campos

Fight Choreographer
Jake Dailey

Fight Captain
Tyler Cramer

Text Coach
Carrie Smith Lewis

Stage Manager
Megan Ward

BARTER THEATRE IS PARTIALLY FUNDED BY