“Romeo and Juliet” appears on the Main Stage
for one weekend only at Players By The Sea. The show will retain the classic plot that
follows star-crossed forbidden lovers. The all-female cast will be utilizing real
swords and daggers in their stage choreography, created by “Violence and
Intimacy Designer”, Dr. Kate Busselle.
Dr. Busselle is new to the theatre scene here in Jacksonville but brings with
her an extensive educational and professional background. She is quoted to say: “I am so excited to
bring safe theatrical violence work to Players by the Sea. This cast has been working tirelessly learning
all of the moves I've thrown at them, and I am thrilled that the Jacksonville
community gets to see these talented fighters in their element. Don't miss this
show!”
Busselle is an Actor Combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors
(SAFD) with certifications in unarmed combat, rapier & dagger,
quarterstaff, single sword, broadsword, broadsword and shield, knife, and
theatrical firearms safety. She recently
completed her Ph.D. in Theatre and Performance Studies at the University of
Missouri. Her dissertation, “Killing
Women: Gender and Violence in Selected Works by Sheila Callaghan and Marisa
Wegrzyn,” examined how performances of violence committed by the characters
within these plays challenge our ideas of gender.
For Romeo and Juliet, Busselle is working both onstage and off to make
the show a success. Onstage, she is
portraying Mercutio, Romeo's witty, hot-tempered friend. Offstage, Kate is staging all of the acts of
violence that occur within the show. Her
expertise allows for all of the acts of violence to be staged realistically
and safely.
About the Show: The Montague's and Capulet's are at war with one another
for reasons unknown. Two forbidden lovers
meet and the rest is history. Together
with swords fights, passionate feelings, and meaningful representations, this
version of the Shakespeare classic is presented with a modern twist -- an
all-female cast. Join PBTS on a journey
to fair Verona for the timeless tale we all know and love but with new,
engaging surprises around every scene.
About Players by the Sea: For over fifty-three years, Players by the Sea
has brought quality creative and classic theatre to the Jacksonville community.
Players mission is to enrich the
community through excellence in theatre. The nonprofit community theatre welcomes all
creative artists to participate in making the magic of theatre come to life,
whether on stage, through advocacy or assisting backstage.
“Romeo and Juliet”
DATES: TIMES
Fri., Feb. 21, 2020 8 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 22 8 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 23 2 p.m.
TICKETS: are on sale now online or
by calling the Box Office at 904.249.0289. General admission is $25.
LOCATION:
Players By The Sea Theatre
106 6th Street North
Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250
(904) 249-0289
Players by the Sea Theatre
will host a fundraiser on January 18th to raise money for “Romeo &
Juliet” that takes the Main Stage in February. The special fundraising event begins at 6 pm
with a silent auction. Attendees can
expect opportunities to win reserved tickets to the show, have a show night
dedicated to them or someone special, and more. There will also be a stage fight
demonstration, much like what will take place on stage for “Romeo &
Juliet”.
Amy Canning Love and Ashley Jones are directing the show. All funds collected from this special event
will go towards cultivating their magical, futuristic vision. Romeo & Juliet will feature a cast of 20
women. All parts are played by female
actors.
“Much like we never know why the two households are at war with each other;
we are never sure where the men in the play are located or even if they even
exist at all—we can only speculate that the women were able to survive without
them… the one gender cast in Shakespeare is a modern tradition- but only to be
celebrated when executed with fidelity and purpose. We have such purpose and that purpose will
sharpen even more as we prepare,” say Canning Love and Jones about their
production.
“Romeo & Juliet” will show at Players on February 20, 21, 22, and 23. Tickets are available now at playersbythesea.org
or by calling the Box Office at (904) 249-0289. Season Membership packages cannot be applied
to this show.
About Players by the Sea - For over fifty-three years, Players by the
Sea has brought quality creative and classic theatre to the Jacksonville
community. Players mission is to enrich
the community through excellence in theatre. The nonprofit community theatre welcomes all
creative artists to participate in making the magic of theatre come to life,
whether on stage, through advocacy or assisting backstage.
For one performance only, The National Ballet
Theatre of Odessa comes to Jacksonville’s Times-Union Center. On January 10, 2020 at 8 p.m., come experience
their production of “Romeo and Juliet”!
This full-scale production, set to the music of Sergey Prokofiev and based on
William Shakespeare’s timeless tale of tragic love, follows young lovers Romeo
and Juliet through warring families and forbidden love. The National Ballet Theatre of Odessa,
Ukraine will bring 55 of Ukraine’s most talented and brightest ballet stars to
present the most passionate romantic tragedy in history.
“Romeo
& Juliet”
DATE: Friday,
Jan. 10, 2020 TIME: 8 p.m.
LOCATION: Times
Union Center Performing Arts
Moran Theater
300 West Water St.
Jacksonville, FL 32202
TICKETS: start at $25 for adults and $12.50 for children
(12 and under), plus applicable fees, and may be purchased at their box office, by calling (904)
632-5000 between 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday, or online 24/7 at fscjartistseries.org. If you’re interested in purchasing 20 or more tickets
please contact Group Sales at (904) 632-5050.
