Outcry Youth Theatre Takes ROMEO AND JULIET To The Circus

Shakespeare's unforgettable tale of star-crossed lovers is coming to the Addison Theatre Centre's Studio Theatre, brought to you by Outcry Youth Theatre. You'll find the romance, action, and tragedy you've come to expect from ROMEO AND JULIET, but without the tights. The story has been transported from Renaissance Italy to a carnival world where two rival circuses have bad blood between them. The classic characters have become ringmasters, tightrope walkers, sword swallowers, magicians, clowns, mimes, and more.

If you weren't paying attention in English class, here's the setup. The Montagues and Capulets are sworn enemies, brawling in the streets of Verona. When Romeo, a Montague, sneaks into a Capulet party and runs into Juliet, it's love at first sight. But love cannot so easily conquer hatred.

The actors in the cast, ages thirteen through eighteen, have been training with the Lone Star Circus's Joseph Gibby to learn circus techniques including juggling, acrobatics, general movement, and tightrope.

Andy Stratton, who plays Romeo, said that "Working with Gibby has been an incredible experience for the cast. Not only has it been unifying and incredibly enjoyable, but it really puts us all in the mindset of what training for a real circus would be like."

Fallon Goldsmith, who plays Juliet, added, "Learning how to walk on a tightrope has helped me build my character as Juliet and learn ways I can bring her role in the circus into all aspects of all my performance."

Directed by Outcry Theatre's artistic director Becca Johnson-Spinos, the production has a cast of twenty-seven actors alternating in two casts.

The show is recommended for ages thirteen and up.

Tickets and more info can be found at: https://www.outcrytheatre.com/romeo-and-juliet.html

Outcry Theatre's hallmarks are bold artistic vision, highly physical staging and an energetic and visceral performance style. In 2017 Outcry Theatre's professional productions, Bat Boy and My Name is Asher Lev, were both featured in the annual Column Awards Best of DFW Theatre and Bat Boy was nominated for Best Musical.

"This is not children's theatre. This is theatre." Outcry Youth Theatre's motto describes how they approach each of their productions. The goal is not for the plays to be good "for kids," but for them to be as good as any adult production. Outcry Youth Theatre opened its first show, Love/Sick, in July of 2016. Outcry Youth's A Wrinkle in Time was recognized with the 2016 Broadway World Dallas Best Youth Play Award.