Students Put Twist on 'Romeo and Juliet'

Buffalo State’s Casting Hall Productions presents the William Shakespeare classic Romeo and Juliet with an unusual twist in a performance that opens Wednesday, October 8, at 8:00 p.m. in the Flexible Theatre, Donald Savage Theater and Communication Building.

In this re-imagining of the timeless story of young love, hatred, and tragedy, the 11 actors will exchange roles so that every female gets to play Juliet at least once, and likewise, every male will play Romeo.

"This challenges our students to create these characters in relation to one another and challenges our perceptions of who these characters are,” said Jennifer Toohey, assistant professor of theater and play director. “I want the students—and the audience—to see that we are all Romeo and Juliet. We all have had that sort of yearning for love. It doesn’t matter what size or color we are.”

Each time an actor takes one of the title roles, he or she will don a vest or sash so that the audience will recognize the character change. The play, divided into two parts with one intermission, lasts almost three hours.

“This is definitely my favorite Shakespeare play,” Toohey said of the joint decision to produce Romeo and Juliet. “I wanted the students to have to opportunity to play key parts that they typically don’t get because they may not be the right type. They’ve done an excellent job thus far with the multiple roles.”

Subsequent performances will be held October 9–11 and October 15–18 at 8:00 p.m. and October 11 and 18 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 general admission; $10 for faculty, staff, seniors, alumni, and non-Buffalo State students; $6 for Buffalo State students; and free for high school students with ID. Purchase tickets through the Rockwell Hall Box Office, online, or by phone (716) 878-3005.