Costume Design by Patrick Holt. Lighting Design by Brooke Ford. Scenic Design by Christina Griffey. Sound Design by Jakob Dyson. Technical Direction by Jason Washburn. Stage Managed by Maggie Green. Text & Dialect Coach Kevin Black. Intimacy Choreography and Dance Choreography by Christie Kerr. Dramaturgy by Dylan Crites. Directed by Brent Gibbs.
Romeo & Juliet opened on the Tornabene stage last week, and reviewers from Broadway World and The Arizona Daily Star praised the cast, crew and director Brent Gibbs.
Writing for the Star, Kathy Allen gave kudos to Gibbs for his use of music in this version of the play, which is set in Verona, Kentucky. “Gibbs … injected Appalachian ballads, all about death and dying, into the play. That … was a sort of stroke of genius.”
Broadway World‘s Robert Encila Celdran acknowledged members of the creative team for the “refreshingly novel experience” of the production and its concept – giving nods to Brooke Ford and Jakob Dyson for lighting and sound design, respectively, for “creating sensory details to match a distinctively spirited storytelling approach” and to Christina Griffey‘s “imaginative and lush” set.
Both reviewers lauded various cast members. Kathy Allen remarked that “Max Murray gave Romeo the innocence and passion necessary in the young lover” and “his Juliet, Sydney Disabato, matched him. One almost blushes witnessing the intense romance between the two.”
Robert Encila Celdran had similar notes:
“Max Murray and Sydney DiSabato are a sterling pair. Murray’s Romeo wields the reckless disposition of youthful nobility, driven by unqualified zeal yet unfazed by consequence. DiSabato showcases Juliet’s flippant edge, which serves her well when protecting her supple interior.”
Costume Design by Patrick Holt. Lighting Design by Brooke Ford. Scenic Design by Christina Griffey. Sound Design by Jakob Dyson. Technical Direction by Jason Washburn. Stage Managed by Maggie Green. Text & Dialect Coach Kevin Black. Intimacy Choreography and Dance Choreography by Christie Kerr. Dramaturgy by Dylan Crites. Directed by Brent Gibbs.
“Strong performances abound — Tess Dinerstein as Lady Capulet, Madelyn Whitehead as the Nurse, and Camden Stankus as Escalus have the most clearly defined presence.”
“The entire cast is most impressive in the opening minutes as they render the prologue in choral delivery of a famous single speech.”
Allen’s favorable review concluded that the production “reminds us what a stellar theater program the UA offers.”
Romeo & Juliet will run through March 19th in the Tornabene Theatre.
Read more at Arizona Daily StarRead more at Broadway World
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