ROMEO AND JULIET – Shakespeare in the Wild

Romeo and Juliet has been part of my artistic life for many years, and somehow, it never stops breaking my heart in new ways. It’s my favorite Shakespeare play—not because of the romance or the poetry (though both are beautiful)—but because of the kids.

I love kids. I love what they stand for: their honesty, their messiness, their hope, their wild, unfiltered passion. I love their innocence and, yes, even their stupidity. I am constantly moved by how this play captures the tragedy of what happens when society fails its young people—when we ask them to grow up too fast, inherit our grudges, and live with our consequences. Romeo and Juliet are not symbols to me. They are teenagers: brilliant and brave and so heartbreakingly young.

It has been a true gift to revisit this story with this extraordinary group of people. Their talent, their boldness, and their hearts have reminded me, once again, why this play matters.  May it remind us what it means to be young, and how deeply we owe the next generation.

-Carrie Colton (Director and Choreographer)