Romeo and Juliet at the State Theatre

Running to Places Theatre Company is pleased to present the ultimate story of love and death, Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, in the amazing setting of the State Theatre on May 20 – 22.  See the star-crossed lovers torn apart by their families’ hate, with breath-taking swordplay, hilarious hijinks, and gut-wrenching tragedy.   Shakespeare’s most beautiful and heartbreaking words with a rockin’ soundtrack and stunning visuals make this production a must see!  Tickets are available at the State Theatre box office at 105 W. State Street, by calling 607-277-8283, or online at www.stateofithaca.com.

Director Joey Steinhagen talks enthusiastically about the timeless relevance for the play for today’s audiences.  “This is a story about passionate teenagers experiencing the most extreme feelings possible. These are, of course, heightened still by the fact that they are teenagers – what doesn’t feel extreme? Unlike so many productions of Romeo and Juliet, our cast is actually the appropriate age to play these characters. Their breathtaking performances are in part a result of them so deeply relating to timeless themes such as ‘love at first sight,’ ‘fate,’ and even ‘parents just don’t understand.’

Producer Gail Belokur adds, “What excites me the most about our Romeo and Juliet is seeing just how excited our high school students are to be performing in and supporting this production.  Kids this excited about Shakespeare?  Telling everyone how epic this experience is in their lives? That’s when you know just how strong this production will be and how lucky we are to be a part of the work they are doing.”

The director of the show is also excited about the look and feel of the show. “Oh, it’s gonna be hot,” smiles Steinhagen. “Words we used in refining the concept among our design team included: hot, gritty, and punk. The weapons of the famous fights of this play will be unconventional at times. We’re also incorporating music and technology that brings the show right into the world of the YouTube and Facebook generation, with a hot soundtrack, live onstage video feeds, and more. And yet, we remain faithful to Shakespeare’s original language.”  The technology Steinhagen refers to includes the use of two iPod Touchess, which will be raffled off to two lucky winners at a mere $5 per chance to win either of the two devices.  Details on this raffle can be found at www.runningtoplaces.org.

The play is sponsored in part by The Savage Club, Shakespeare in the Basement, and Viva la Femme.  Running to Places also receives season-long support from CSP Management, the Ithaca Youth Bureau, and Cayuga Radio Group as well as grant support from Community Arts Partnership.
R2P connects middle and high school students from across the Tompkins County area, teaching important life skills and strengthening community while creating great theatre. Founded in 2007, they were recently named “Best Community Theatre Company of 2010” by the readers of the Ithaca Times.

Performance Dates:

• Fri, May 20 at 7:00pm
• Sat, May 21 at 7:00pm
• Sun, May 22 at 2:00pm