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Breakdown
Director Derek Magyar takes his exploration of Shakespeare's classic into a whole new dimension. The seeds for this production were planted in 2004 when Magyar and Filament Theatre Company co-founder Max Traux did an original play called Farewell Juliet at the Santa Monice Playhouse.
Then in 2012 Magyar was asked by his Alma mater, California Institure of the Arts (CalArts), to guest direct a workshop that enabled him to continue to explore his obsession with Romeo and Juliet. That undertaking brought together professional actors from the stage and screen with CalArts students and alumni, assembling a brilliant pool of talent and enabling further professional training for students. The casting for the current full production will follow the same approach.
Magyar's connection to Cal Arts is deeply rooted, not only because of the theatre edution he recieved there - but also becuas its multi-disciplinary approach to the arts has continured to influence him as both an atrist and as a person. Thus Magyar's new production will unitlize diverse multi-media, live action video, live music, a full film-like score, dance as a form of primal expression and of course live-action theater.
This version of Romeo and Juliet will take place in a post-apocalyptic world and will delve into our most primary feelings of sexuality, lust and desire - and the roots of our programmed ideas and feelings about ove, god and life.
[ROMEO] MALE, AGES 24-34, ALL ETHNICITIES: (Lead) Romeo is a dreamer. He believes in the idea of love and thinks that love might be the answer to all of his problems. We meet Romeo and he is still getting over his last love who broke his heart. Romeo quite clearly doesn’t seem to be like his cousins, and even when they are playing games and messing around together, he’s lamenting his lost love. When Romeo and Juliet meet sparks fly right away as Juliet sees that he may be the one to start over with her to create a new beginning. Juliet will be and is continuously more mature than Romeo. Does she truly fall for him as he does for her? She wants to know that he’s serious but she wants to know if he is serious about something much bigger than love. She wants to know if he is serious about LIFE outside these walls. About truly creating a new world. A new ADAM and EVE? Romeo stumbles into all of this, he’s clearly much more juvenile in “love” than Juliet. They represent youth, but it’s youth in a world of chaos and is also a departure from the norm. Romeo has moments of “change”. The Change is where Romeo allows this world of anger and chaos feed the ANGER that is part of this remaining world. This is where we see the shift in romeo, how does he take Mercutio’s death? Does he see it as the true symbol that it’s meant to be? A symbol of love and peace and future? No, instead he becomes a part of this violent, masculine “afterworld”. His chase after Tybalt is pure programmed rage. In the end Romeo is too weak for this world and his choice to take his own life is one that will be deeply explored. He needs to be strong in heart and body but also feel effeminate in his mannerisms and actions.PROBABLE FULL FRONTAL NUDITY
[JULIET] FEMALE, early to mid 20’s. Juliet is much more than just a pretty face. She’s smart, witty, and determined. She knows what she wants, and she gets it. It’s Juliet who proposes to Romeo, not the other way around. Juliet alone is the play’s real protagonist: her character undergoes the greatest evolution during the course of the play. Juliet is powerful, beautiful and oozes sexuality without even knowing. She is a truly a master at manipulation.
[MERCUTIO] MALE/FEMALE, AGES 24-34, ALL ETHNICITIES): (Lead) Romeo’s close friend. One of the most extraordinary characters in all of Shakespeare’s plays, Mercutio overflows with imagination, wit, and, at times, a strange, biting satire and brooding fervor. Convincing both as a man and as a woman. (S)He is a representation of the cease-fire of the sexes, of androgyny. (S)He is a true leader. (S)he is in this world for a purpose and is trying desperately to help but, sometimes people don’t want to hear truth. Mercutio's death is a tragedy but it’s also a symbol of lost hope and in it’s martyrdom will it be heard? POSSIBLE NUDITY
[NURSE] MALE/FEMALE, AGES 26-38, CAUCASIAN/AFRICAN AMERICAN/HISPANIC/ASIAN): (Lead) Juliet’s nurse? The Nurse was given a task when she came into the Capulet's household at a young age and that was to look after their pride and joy. That she could be a part of this family if and only if she raised Juliet to be the way that this world wanted her to be and that she resemble a physical guide and map of perfection for Juliet. The nurse can come across at times as compassionate and loving for Juliet but then she also can come across as vulgar and long-winded. She wishes she were Juliet and she can't understand why they don't see her for what she really is! She is the ''bastard'' daughter to the Capulets in this new world of the unknown. Willing to help Juliet until it means her own head. The nurse believes in the idea of love, but the idea that Juliet would want to sacrifice herself for love is incomprehensible to her. Much to be explored and examined in this role. The Nurse should physically look like the quintessential ''Juliet'' on the outside. POSSIBLE NUDITY
[TYBALT] MALE/FEMALE, AGES 24-34, ALL ETHNICITIES): (Lead) A Capulet, Juliet’s cousin on her mother’s side. Vain, fashionable, supremely aware of courtesy and the lack of it, he becomes aggressive, violent, and quick to draw his sword when he feels his pride has been injured. Once drawn, his sword is something to be feared. He loathes Montagues. Tybalt's deep seeded love for Juliet will be explored in this adaptation. POSSIBLE NUDITY
[LORD CAPULET] MALE, AGES 28-50, ALL ETHNICITIES) : (Supporting) The patriarch/leader of the Capulet family, of military background. He is the father of Juliet, husband of Lady Capulet, and enemy, for many reasons, of Montague's. He thinks he truly loves his daughter, though he is not well acquainted with Juliet’s thoughts or feelings, and seems to think that what is best for her is a “good” match with Paris. Often prudent, he commands respect and propriety, but he is liable to fly into a rage when either is lacking.
[LADY CAPULET] FEMALE, AGES 28-50, ALL ETHNICITIES): (Supporting) Juliet’s mother, Capulet’s wife. A woman who herself married young and had Juliet as a young girl, she is eager to see her daughter marry Paris. She is an ineffectual mother, relying on the Nurse for moral and pragmatic support. She doesn't know how to really stand on her own two feet and when we see her try she is smacked down and belittled.
[LORD MONTAGUE] MALE, AGES 18-50, ALL ETHNICITIES): (Supporting) Romeo’s father, the patriarch of the Montague clan and bitter enemy of Capulet. At the beginning of the play, he is chiefly concerned about Romeo’s melancholy.
[LADY MONTAGUE] FEMALE, AGES 28-50, ALL ETHNICITIES):(Supporting) Romeo’s mother, Montague’s wife. She dies of grief after Romeo is exiled from Verona.
[SAMSON] MALE/FEMALE, AGES 24-34, ALL ETHNICITIES): (Supporting) Servants of the house of Capulet, who, like his Master, hates the Montague's. At the outset of the play, Samson provokes some of the Montague's into a fight.
[GREGORY] MALE/FEMALE, AGES 24-34, ALL ETHNICITIES): (Supporting) servant of the house of Capulet, who, like his master, hates the Montagues. At the outset of the play, Gregory provokes some of the Montagues into a fight.
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