The American Repertory Theater – which this month finished its smashing run of “Gatsby” – returns to the classics for its next production: a “Romeo and Juliet” that opens at the Loeb Drama Center on Sept. 5.
The play is directed by Diane Paulus, the theater’s artistic director. Paulus was also behind last fall’s A.R.T. production of “Becoming a Man,” which tells the story of a trans man’s journey to gender acceptance. Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, a Belgian choreographer whom Paulus collaborated with on “Jagged Little Pill,” is working with her as movement director and choreographer.
Paulus is sticking largely to a traditional interpretation of the William Shakespeare story first performed in 1597, said Clay Singer, who plays Mercutio, but with less emphasis on the differences between the Montagues and the Capulets.
“We’ve got a really interesting telling of this story that we all know so well,” Singer said.
While the clash between the two families underlies the play’s conflict and tragedy, “there are moments onstage where you’re not really going to be able to differentiate between the two,” Singer said. “It’s a really interesting choice that helps lead to questions like ‘What is hate?’ and ‘Why do we hate?’ It causes you to ask a few more questions than a production with a clear divide would.”
Putting on a play such as “Romeo and Juliet,” whose star-crossed lovers are ubiquitous hundreds of years after William Shakespeare introduced them, requires a certain creativity, Singer suggested.
Rudy Pankow, who plays JJ Mayback in the teen drama series “Outer Banks,” and Emilia Suárez, who played Renee in the musical comedy “Up Here,” lead the cast as Romeo and Juliet, with support from Brandon Dial as Benvolio, Adi Dixit as Paris and Alex Ross as Tybalt. Terence Archie and Nicole Villamil play Lord and Lady Capulet and Bradley Dean and Abiola Obatolu play Lord and Lady Montague.
Singer, who will be making his A.R.T. debut, called working with his fellow actors as well as Paulus, Cherkaoui and the rest of the crew “an incredibly gratifying” experience.
“Everyone who is part of this production is just so unbelievably talented, which makes it an amazing show to be working on, but also an amazing show to see, I hope,” Singer said.
Tickets are available online, with performances from Sept. 5 to Oct. 6. The A.R.T.’s Take Five initiative offers $5 tickets to all shows after Sept. 5 for community members who may otherwise be unable to attend theater performances.
A stronger
Please consider making a financial contribution to maintain, expand and improve Cambridge Day.
We are now a 501(c)3 nonprofit and all donations are tax deductible.
Please consider a recurring contribution.