Loyola has exciting things in store, as the fall play Romeo and Juliet is this weekend. The play will be performed three times: Friday, November 10 and Saturday, November 11 at 7:00, and Sunday, November 12 at 2:00. It is taking place in Loyola’s new McGrath Family Performing Arts Center. This will be the third show that Loyola puts on in this impressive space.
Romeo and Juliet is the story of two star crossed lovers whose families keep them apart. The play deals with themes of love and hate that junior Lucy Kirkland, who plays Juliet, believes everyone will be able to relate to and enjoy.
The director, Mr. Arndt says Romeo and Juliet was chosen as the fall play partly because of these themes of love and hate. The production will celebrate how love overcomes hate.
The other leading actor is junior Tommy Grant, who will play Romeo. He considers the play to be “a fast paced, heartwarming, and heart wrenching story” full of love, comedy, and lessons.
Student actors and actresses from Loyola auditioned for this play in late September. Once the roles were cast, they got right to work on putting this show together.
First, the actors had to learn their lines, which are written in Shakespearean English. Although they both agree that this was a very complicated process, Lucy and Tommy both found that learning their lines was similar to learning song lyrics. A lot of the lines have rhythm and some of them rhyme. And don’t worry if the thought of a play in Shakespearean English is scary. Loyola’s version of Romeo and Juliet includes two modern day narrators who will help guide the audience through the story.
Another notable part of this production is the use of sword fighting. Many of the actors were taught how to use real swords and will be actually fighting live on the stage this weekend. Junior Evelyn Pricco, who plays Benvolio, says that “it was so cool to get to work with real fight choreographers and learn this old art and combat form.”
These different parts of the play all come together this week in what is known as Tech Week. All of the lines, scenes, and costumes that the actors have worked on will come together with the sets and technology from the crew.
Director Ms. Roach says the best part about tech week is how the actors and crew, which were once working separately, now get to work together. She feels “there is no other collaborative art as great as theater.”
It seems to be a consensus among all the actors that Tech Week is incredibly rewarding. Every single actor and crew member has put in so much hard work and effort into making the story come to life, and it finally will this week.!
Make sure to stop by this weekend to see everyone that has worked so hard for this play! The actors, directors, and crew of Romeo and Juliet assure you that you will not be disappointed.
