Romeo & Juliet

SHAKESPEARE IN HISTORIC SOUTH PARK

A few years ago I met up with my family in Columbus to attend a Shakespeare in the Park production in German Village. While not a huge fan of “The Bard,” I still completely enjoyed the experience. The acting was terrrific, it was a perfect atmosphere-a great sense of community and idyllic summer evening under the stars with my family watching the Tempest. Fast forward a couple of years and the neighborhood in which I now reside in Dayton has the same great tradition.

This weekend marks the third outdoor Shakespeare production in the Historic South Park neighborhood in as many years. The passionate and dedicated troupe of actors and other volunteers have previously produced A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM (2009) and MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (2008). The 2010 Shakespeare in South Park Company will tackle it’s first tragedy in what will surely be a unique setting for the classic ROMEO & JULIET. As in past productions, a significant number of cast and crew are Historic South Park neighborhood residents.

From the Official Press Release:

Director Daniel Wilson has set the famous story of star-crossed lovers shortly after the conclusion of the Civil War and placed it near the border state region in a spot historically similar to Montgomery County, Ohio. As students of history know, it was a time when sympathies still ran hot. The Montagues (Romeo’s family) are depicted as Union soldiers and officers; Juliet’s Capulets as Confederates.

The director explains his choice for the play’s setting: “The Civil War’s causes are complex, but…those involved came to believe the only way to resolve their differences was through violence. Romeo and Juliet is a play about…non-violence. Friar Laurence (“Mother Laurence” in this production, played by Judi Earley), the only character respected by [both the Montaguesand Capulets], consistently preaches the need for balance and peace.”

By setting the play 150 years ago in America, Wilson finds renewed relevance in a 400-year-old play written in England and set in Italy. The divisive politics of today have left people unwilling to compromise. Shakespeare’s play reminds us that if we are unwilling to find peaceful solutions to our differences, our children will pay the price.

The venue for Romeo & Juliet will once again be the South Park Green, an intimate park located on Hickory Street. The troupe reports that they will be utilizing a historic two-story carriage house in the bordering property as a backdrop. This setting also provides a terrific opportunity for the famous “Balcony Scene,” utilizing a second story window and the foliage below.

A unique South Park presence in Romeo and Juliet will be the antique sword carried by Lord Montague. Made in Cincinnati about 1900, it was found in the attic of 130 Alberta Street during a mid-1980s rehab, and has remained with the house, passed to each successive homeowner.

Midsummer Nights Dream - 2009 - Shakespeare in South Park

Show times are 8:00 PM Friday through Sunday, September 17-19 at South Park Green on Hickory Street in the Historic South Park neighborhood.

Shakespeare in South Park productions are free to the public, while contributions are gratefully received and used to defray costs of the show. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket.

The weekend is calling for some gorgeous weather, with just a slight chance of rain on Sunday. If it does rain, don’t worry, the play will be staged at Hope Lutheran Church, 500 Hickory Street.

For more information, visit the Historic South Park website at historicsouthpark.org, or call 937-603-4893.

Win Tickets to Idina Menzel & the Cincinnati Pops!

Encore Theater Company’s MusicalWorld Podcast & DaytonMostMetro.Com’s onStageDayton team up to offer you an exciting opportunity to WIN TICKETS to see

IDINA MENZEL

IN CONCERT WITH THE CINCINNATI POPS ORCHESTRA

SEPTEMBER 24-26, 2010

Tony Award winner Idina Menzel has a diverse career on the stage, in films and in music. Menzel recently joined the cast of GLEE, the Fox juggernaut where she plays the coach of rival glee club Vocal Adrenaline, McKinley High Glee Club’s main competition. Last year, Menzel concluded a national tour promoting her album, I Stand. A skillful songwriter, Idina writes and performs her own music. She released the Glen Ballard-produced album for her record label, Warner Bros. Records, and played to sold out houses around the United States. Menzel performed her show in New York as part of the Mastercard Soundstage series, which aired on PBS. PBS also aired the concert version of Chess: The Musical, recorded at the Royal Albert Hall where Idina shared the stage with Josh Groban. In film, Idina appeared opposite Susan Sarandon, Patrick Dempsey and Amy Adams in Disney’s hit, ENCHANTED as well as Chris Columbus’ film version of the Pulitzer and Tony Award winning musical RENT, in which she reprised her role as Maureen. This was on the heels of her co-starring role in Robert Towne’s ASK THE DUST, opposite Salma Hayek and Colin Farrell.

In television, Idina recently completed an arc on the Grey’s Anatomy hit spin-off, PRIVATE PRACTICE on ABC.

Menzel completed her Tony Award winning performance, for Lead Actress in a Musical, in WICKED in December 2005. Helmed by Tony Award-winning director Joe Mantello, WICKED has played to packed audiences at the Gershwin Theatre since it opened in October 2003. Additionally, Menzel was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for her role as the misunderstood green girl.

Idina received a Tony nomination for her Broadway debut performance as Maureen, in the original production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning hit RENT. She also earned a Drama Desk nomination for her performance as Kate in Manhattan Theater Club’s Off- Broadway original musical THE WILD PARTY.

…but how do I win the tickets…?

REGISTER TO WIN

1. Become a Facebook fan of Facebook.com/MusicalWorldEncoreTheater

2. Post on our wall why you are “Idina’s Biggest Fan” -OR- post a YouTube video on our wall of yourself singing “Defying Gravity” or another Idina Menzel song (this one counts as two entries in our drawing!).

3. All entries will be entered into a drawing for TWO tickets to see IDINA MENZEL with the Cincinnati Pops September 24-26, 2010. (note: winner will need to make arrangements early next week with the onStageDayton staff for retrieval of the ticket voucher for the Idina Menzel tickets).

HURRY! – DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES IS