DCTC's Stage Theatre Presents ROMEO & JULIET, Now thru 2/24

The classic tale of two young lovers and feuding families, William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet comes to the Denver Center Theatre Company's (DCTC) Stage Theatre tonight, January 25 - February 24. Tickets may be purchased now, by calling 303.893.4100 or visiting www.denvercenter.org.

Romeo meets Juliet at a masked ball, love sparks, swept along by flights of poetry and ecstatic romance. But the young lovers fall victim to their feuding families. Exuberant and tragic, this timeless love story still packs a huge emotional wallop. Although traditional in costume and time period, this production of Romeo & Juliet will be staged in a contemporary fashion.

The cast of Romeo & Juliet includes both new and returning actors. Playing the role of Romeo is Charles Pasternak (The Three Musketeers) and Lenne Klingaman (debut) is Juliet. The House of Capulet includes John G. Preston (The Taming of the Shrew, Pierre, After Ashley) as Capulet, Kathleen McCall (When We Are Married, Heartbreak House, The Taming of the Shrew) as Lady Capulet, Matthew Simpson (debut) as Tybalt, Jeanne Paulsen (When We Are Married, The Three Musketeers, Superior Donuts) as Nurse, Matt Zambrano (The Liar, The Taming of the Shrew, A Christmas Carol) as Peter and Leigh Nichols Miller (A Midsummer Night's Dream, Richard III, The Miracle Worker) as Sampson. The House of Montague includes Mike Hartman (14 seasons/Irving Berlin's White Christmas, World Premiere Great Wall Story, The Taming of the Shrew) as Montague and Friar John, Tracy Shaffer (When We Are Married, Two Things You Don't Talk About At Dinner, New Play Summit 2011) as Lady Montague, Mark Christine (debut) as Benvolio, Anthony Bianco (When We Are Married, The Three Musketeers, World Premiere Two Things You Don't Talk About At Dinner) as Balthazar and Benaiah Anderson (The Three Musketeers, Richard III) as Gregory and Page to Paris.

Philip Pleasants (The Giver, Heartbreak House, The Taming of the Shrew) plays the roles of Prince Escalus and Apothecary, J. Todd Adams (debut) is Mercutio, Geoffrey Kent (The Three Musketeers, Othello, Eventide) is Paris and Sam Gregory (39 productions/When We Are Married, The Three Musketeers, Heartbreak House) is Friar Laurence.

Sam Wentworth who has directed at Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey and Indiana Repertory Theatre makes his DCTC debut as director of Romeo & Juliet. Set designer Michael Ganio (Henry IV, Part 1 and Part 2, Tartuffe, Lifelines) creates a minimalistic and Contemporary Stage, using light Oakwood materials that are complemented by elegant detailed furnishing and candelabras. The set will boast the traditional Elizabethan period costumes designed by Christina Poddubiuk (debut), known as one of the best Shakespearean costumers in the country. Lighting design is by Peter West (debut) while sound design is by Craig Breitenbach (Irving Berlin's White Christmas, The Three Musketeers, Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash). Musical composition is by Rodolfo Ortega (The Three Musketeers). Kathryn G. Maes Ph.D (When We Are Married, Fences, The Three Musketeers, Heartbreak House) is both dramaturg and voice and text coach. Fight direction is by Geoffrey Kent (Othello, Eventide, Richard III) who is charged with creating duels and sword fights that are authentic to the time while Robert Davidson (Midsummer Night's Dream, The Taming of the Shrew, The Tempest) works with the actors on choreography.

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