Williamstown's Romeo and Juliet, with Rossum, Opens Aug. 2

The Williamstown Theatre Festival's new production of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, starring Emmy Rossum/>/> and Austin Lysy and directed by Will Frears (The Water's Edge/>/>), runs August 2-13.

"The story of star-crossed lovers whose struggle for love and happiness, in spite of familial opposition, ends in senseless death, has been called the greatest work of romantic literature ever written," according to production notes.  Frears describes his vision for this new take on the classic story, "a modern-day punk-rock Latin-American fantasy of young love." 

The production stars Emmy Rossum/>/> as Juliet.   Rossum's film appearances include  Poseidon, The Phantom of the Opera (Golden Globe Best Actress nomination, National Board of Review award for Female Breakthrough Performance and Broadcast Film Critics Association award for Best Young Actress), Mystic River and The Day After Tomorrow. 

Austin Lysy stars as Romeo.  Lysy recently completed an acclaimed run in The Water's Edge Off-Broadway Off-Broadway.   At Williamstown he has appeared in The Water's Edge/>/>, The Chekhov Cycle, Loot, and Philadelphia, Here I Come!.  On Broadway, he appeared in Macbeth.

They will be joined Remy Auberjonois/>/> (Off-Broadwy's The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow) as Tybalt,  Bill Camp (The Seagull) as Friar Laurence,  Enid Graham/>/> (Tony-nominee for Honour) as Lady Capulet,  Kristine Nielsen/>/> (A Streetcar Named Desire) as the Nurse,  Nyambi Nyambi  (Off-Broadway's A Matter of Choice) as Sampson, Paul O'Brien (Democracy) as Montague, Daniel Oreskes (Aida) as Capulet, Joe Plummer (Off-Broadway's New Boy) as Paris,  Sandra Shipley (The Retreat from Moscow) as Lady Montague,  Ian Unterman (Williamstown's On the Razzle) as Gregory, Benjamin Walker (Off-Broadway's Arrangements) as Mercutio. 

Completing the cast are members of the Festival's Non-Equity Company and Apprentice Company, who also appear in the on-stage band "Los Mercedes." 

Choreography is by Tracy Bersley.  Fight Choreography is by Rick Sordelet.  The composer is Michael Friedman.  Set design is by Takeshi Kata.  Costume design is by Jenny Mannis.  Lighting design is by Matthew Richards.  Sound design is by David Thomas. 

Tickets are available at wtfestival.org, 413.597.3400, and the Festival Box Office.  Performances are Tuesdays – Fridays at 8:00 , Saturdays at 8:30, with matinees Thursdays at 3:00 , Saturdays at 4:00 and Sundays at 2:00 . 

Williamstown Theatre Festival performances are held at The '62 Center for Theatre and Dance of Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts.  Visit www.wtfestival.org for more information.

Photo by Allison Leger--Austin Lysy and Emmy Rossum