Long Wharf's Shake-It-Up-Shakespeare Youth Ensemble to Stage ROMEO AND JULIET, 8/22-25

Long Wharf Theatre's Shake-it-up-Shakespeare youth ensemble brings its unique take on the classics to Romeo and Juliet, performed on Stage II, August 22-25.

The performances begin at 7 p.m. on August 22-24, and at 2 p.m. on August 25.

The play is directed and adapted by Long Wharf Theatre's Director of Education Annie DiMartino, with musical direction by Carol Taubl.

DiMartino takes the familiar tale of star-crossed lovers and recasts the families in terms of social class - the Montagues are from impoverishedAppalachia and the Capulets live in the Gatsby-esque glamour of wealth and privilege. The complexity of these relationships drive the tragic love story, DiMartino said. "I've been intrigued by the idea of mudslinging," DiMartino said. "They hurl insults like daggers at each other. Everyone is stained by it, and this production will physically manifest that condition. No matter how beautiful things are on the outside, everyone is still dirty."

As in previous years' productions, DiMartino searched for a modern soundtrack that will lend an added dimension to Shakespeare's words. In this instance, she decided to use folk music as her guiding conceptual inspiration. "That is where my passion went," she said.

She decided to use 13 songs in the play, including work from the artists Fun, Civil War, Taylor Swift, Mumford and Sons, and The Dave Matthews Band, among others. The music will be performed by members of the cast. "The minute I started talking about the concept of the show and the music choices with the cast, and I saw their excitement, I knew it would work," DiMartino said.

The cast includes Chrystina Bonelli of Guilford; Jessica Coppola of North Haven; Alex Luft of Trumbull; Chloe Chappa of Oxford; Chrystina Bonelli of Guilford; Dawn Williams of Trumbull; Emily Roberson of New Haven; Hannah Scholnick of Madison; Henry Tobelman of Killingworth; James Taubl of New Haven; Jane Logan of Branford; Jeremiah Taubl of New Haven; Jessica Coppola of North Haven; Kiet Ho of East Haven; Lilly Holmes of Newtown; MacKenzie Stratton of Orange; Maggie Richardson of Wallingford; Matthew DeCostanza of Milford; Morgan Campbell of Westbrook; Nina Dicker of Old Saybrook; Oriana Mack of Woodbridge; Rachel Skalka of Woodbridge; Rebecca Liss of Woodbridge; Ryan Ronan of West Haven; Sam Taubl of New Haven; Samantha Edelman of North Haven; Sara Jadbabaie of Woodbridge; Shanen Seale of Milford; and Steven Smith of New Haven.

"I'm very excited about my cast," DiMartino said. "Vocally they are perfect for the parts they are playing and they are not afraid to make bold physical choices. They are eager and willing, and they want to learn how to do the language justice."

Tickets are $10. For more information about the show or to reserve tickets, visit www.longwharf.org or call the box office at 203-787-4282.