Utah Shakespeare Festival Casts Christian Barillas as Romeo in ROMEO AND JULIET

Christian Barillas has been cast in the lead role of "Romeo and Juliet" at Utah Shakespeare Festival, which will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary Season in 2011. The production will be directed by Artistic Director David Ivers and will run in the Adams Shakespearean Theatre June 23 through September 3.

"I'm thrilled for the opportunity to play this role on such an incredible occasion," said Barillas. "50 years is a tremendous achievement for any arts organization and playing Romeo has always been part of the dream."

Barillas spent the 2010 season as a member of The Acting Company at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, where he performed in Darko Tresnjak's "Twelfth Night" and Libby Appel's "Pride and Prejudice." "Romeo and Juliet" marks his first appearance with Utah, where he will also be playing the role of Clarence in "Richard III."

"I'm also very excited to collaborate with David during his first season at the helm," added Barillas. The two first met at Denver Center during Ivers' time there as a company member. Ivers was appointed co-Artistic Director of the Festival along with Brian Vaughn in the spring of 2010.

Other recent highlights for Barillas include the world premiere of Octavio Solis' "Lydia" at Denver Center and later at Yale Repertory Theatre, as well as work at South Coast Repertory. On television, he appeared on "Without a Trace," among others.

Utah Shakespeare Festival's season runs from June 23 to October 22 and also includes Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "The Winter's Tale," as well as Meredith Willson's "The Music Man," the Tennessee Williams drama "The Glass Menagerie," "Noises Off!" by Michael Frayn, and "Dial M. for Murder" by Frederick Knott.

Tickets are now on sale at www.bard.org and 1-800-PLAYTIX (800-752-9849).