Theatre VCU presents contemporary twist on classic 'Romeo and Juliet'

By J. Suzanne Horsley

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Theatre will present a contemporary interpretation of William Shakespeare’s "Romeo and Juliet" in the Performing Arts Center, Raymond Hodges Theatre, 922 Park Ave. The production will run Nov. 8-11 and 14-17.

Award-winning director Kelly Morgan has created a bold staging of this classic Shakespeare play with a gritty contemporary-American setting. Fight director Aaron Anderson, an internationally certified teacher of stage combat, choreographed the physical score of "Romeo and Juliet," with modern-day firearms replacing the standard swords and daggers.

"This production is edgy, direct and brutal," said Morgan. "A fight often takes place when the words can no longer resolve the conflicts between the characters. So the spectacular is more an emotion than a spectacle of flashy movements, and that’s the challenge and the joy of working on this production of "Romeo and Juliet."

For tickets and information, call the Theatre VCU Box Office at (804) 828-6026. Ticket prices are $10 for general admission, $8 for VCU faculty and staff and seniors, and free for VCU students with valid VCU ID.