LES Shakespeare Company's ROMEO & JULIET Begins 7/23 at Under St. Marks Theater

LES Shakespeare Company presents ROMEO & JULIET in a new interpretation re-imagined with original compositions and choreography at Under St. Marks Theater (94 St. Marks Place) from Thursday July 23rdthrough Saturday July 25th. Artistic director Melody Erfani directs a cast that includes Adriana Bohmier, Kevin Bunge, Edlyn Griffin, Byron Hagan, Sean Hinckle, Ariel Lauryn, J. P. Makowski, Mike Maloneyand Sarah Miles.

Two noble families of Verona, the Capulets and the Montagues, have a long standing feud that is heightened when Romeo from the Montague clan attends a festivity held by the Capulets. There he sees beautiful, young Juliet, the daughter of Capulet and instantly falls in love with her, unaware that he has been noticed by her cousin Tybalt who is furious that a Montague has broken into the festivities and intends to take revenge. When Romeo speaks to Juliet, she too shares his profound attraction, and their bond is sealed when he calls to her on her balcony later that evening to profess his love. Soon after they turn to Friar Lawrence, Romeo's friend and confidant and ask for him to marry them in secret. He does as a means of ending the feud between their families. Then, through a series of fatal errors, all goes irrevocably awry. In LES SHAKES re-imagined version of the Shakespearean classic, original compositions and movement are added to provide depth and dimension to the swiftness of the relationship between the star-crossed lovers and their journey. The actors also function as a chorus through which stylized moving highlights the dramatic action.

Recently founded by Actors Studio Drama School alumni Melody Erfani. Alexander Koo, Kathleen O'Nealand Peter Marciano, LES Shakespeare Company is committed to reaching out to the Lower East Sidecommunity and bringing this diverse group together to enjoy an innovative approach to the works of Shakespeare while expanding their appreciation of classical texts performed at Lower East Side venues and cultural centers. Promoting accessibility to Shakespeare for all ages, LES SHAKES future plans include workshops at schools, Shakespearean acting classes and providing free shows for the community such as "LES Shakes Arts In The Park", a performing arts festival with theater pieces, dance, clowning and bands to be held at the East River Park Amphitheatre July 10th.

LES Shakespeare Company's artistic director Melody Erfani, has an MFA in directing from the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University and was a participant of the 2013 Lincoln Center Directors Lab. Prior to that she was awarded an internship with Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London. Some of her credits includeAll an Act (Edinburgh Fringe Festival), Othello (The Looking Glass Forum) and the recent LES Shakesinaugural production of Twelfth Night performed with much spontaneity at various well known Lower East Side bar/performance spaces.

LES Shakespeare's ROMEO & JULIET runs at Under St. Marks Theatre (94 St. Marks Place between 1st and 2nd Avenues) on Thursday July 23rd, Friday July 24th and Saturday July 25. All performances begin at 7PM. Tickets are $18. For tickets go to https://www.artful.ly/les-shakespeare-co. Student tickets and community discounts are available at the door for $9. For more information go to www.lessshakespeareco.org.

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