Media Archive

[Performer Annaliese] Wilbur said the play, created by Casel and her longtime collaborator Torya Beard, pays homage and gives credit to the “incredible pioneers” who paved the way for Casel and others to pursue their craft despite obstacles.

Johnson said, “I hope that [audiences] are more inquisitive and curious about the tap dancers that are being named, about the tap—specifically the female tap—dancers that have been erased, and get curious about who they are.”

“There’s a driving force now with the show about the relevancy of female empowerment, feminism, sexism, racial injustice, things that are so deeply rooted within generations,” says [Ki’Leigh] Williams.

Hamill says workshops for the epic never fail to draw parallels to contemporary conflicts—as long as there is violence in the world, the Odyssey will be relevant… “There’s lots of swearing in this play, there’s sex in this play, there’s certainly violence in this play, because I want it to feel real to people who are in combat,” Hamill said.

The new student initiative will, among other exercises, bring participating public high school students to an evening performance of every show in the company’s season.

This fresh-feeling new production reunites ART artistic director Diane Paulus and choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, who create an accessible, charming, movement-infused and tragic tale. But Paulus says it’s one that also provides hope.

‘Romeo and Juliet’ is latest in long line of productions stretching back to theater’s inaugural staging in 1980 of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream.’

“As much as things change is as much as they remain the same,” [Christine] Ahanotu said. The play is full of class, race, social, age, and gender divisions… “Why is it that we allow [those divides] to affect the people that we love?”

“Como latinoamericana, no tengo muchos papeles a mi alcance, así que aceptar este rol fue un sí fácil. Para hacerlo mío, simplemente traigo mi esencia al personaje”, concluyó [Emilia] Suarez.