Timeless ‘Romeo and Juliet’ currently running in Marvel Theatre

William Shakespeare’s timeless tale of two young star-crossed lovers has been brought to life by the Department of Theatre and Dance to close out the 2008-09 Walter Gloor Mainstage season.

Preview fight scene rehearsals>>

Romeo and Juliet” opened on Friday, April 24 at 8 p.m. in Marvel Theatre at Rockefeller Arts Center. Other performance dates are Saturday, April 25 at 8 p.m.; Sunday, April 26 at 2 p.m. and Thursday, April 30 through Saturday, May 2 at 8 p.m.

Comedy and tragedy are intertwined throughout, making “Romeo and Juliet” one of Shakespeare’s most popular works. Written early in Shakespeare’s career, “Romeo and Juliet” is, along with “Hamlet,” one of his most frequently performed plays. It has been adapted numerous times for stage, film, musical, ballet and opera.

Critics have lauded Shakespeare’s use of dramatic structure, including the decision to switch between comedy and tragedy to heighten tension, his expansion of minor characters and his use of subplots to embellish the story.

Directing the Mainstage production will be Tom Loughlin, professor of acting and directing.  Loughlin said he has not set this production in a specific time period. Instead he is “trying to create a world for the play which blends the Elizabethan classic and traditional feel of the play with a contemporary style and look.”

“It’s my goal to try to offer audiences a production which creates a synergy between classical and modern approaches to Shakespeare, trying not to favor one over the other, but rather looking for the best of both,” he said.

Loughlin is well-versed in the production of Shakespeare’s works. He has performed several seasons with the Wisconsin Shakespeare Festival, Shakespeare in Delaware Park (Buffalo), and spent a year on tour with the Blackfriars Stage Company Atomic Fission Tour of the American Shakespeare Center.

Editor's Note: More about Shakespearan actor Tom Loughlin on his blog, "A Poor Player">>

A staple in any production of “Romeo and Juliet” is the fight scenes between the warring families. Choreographing these scenes will be action and combat-specialist Ted Sharon, associate professor of voice and movement.

“This is the third ‘Romeo and Juliet’ I’ve done since January and I am excited to be working for Tom Loughlin on his production,” Sharon said. “I am also very fortunate to have three assistants: Ron Grimshaw, Tracy McClure and Vince Oddo. People ask if we’ll recycle fights from other shows to this one. The best method of working is to suit the choreography to the actors’ impulses ─ to their bodies ─ so, the fights are unique from show to show. Invariably the actors look better as they fight and will actually learn the moments and moves sooner because they were part of the creative process.”

Sharon noted Loughlin has presented the challenge of balancing classical Elizabethan and contemporary style with this production of “Romeo and Juliet.”

“What does that mean for the fights? A rapier in one hand and a switch blade in the other,” Sharon said.