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Home › News & Events › News › TFTV presents ‘Romeo + Juliet’ … with a twist

TFTV presents ‘Romeo + Juliet’ … with a twist

January 31, 2023
Professor Brent Gibbs (center) is directing the program’s production of “Romeo & Juliet” this semester with Sydney DiSabato cast as Juliet and Max Murray cast as Romeo.

Rehearsals for the University of Arizona School of Theatre, Film & Television production of Romeo & Juliet are under way. Director Brent Gibbs and principal cast members Max Murray (Romeo) and Sydney DiSabato (Juliet) recently sat down with Daily Wildcat reporter Tereza Rascon to discuss their new take on the classic love story.

Gibbs, taking the helm of his twenty-third Shakespeare production, credited a recent trip as his inspiration: “I was driving through the hills of Ohio and it suddenly occurred to me that Appalachia is full of tales of fated lovers who meet untimely deaths,” Gibbs said. “It got me thinking that maybe that might be a fruitful setting for our production and so we are … setting our production in Verona, Kentucky.”

“One of my favorite things about Shakespeare is that you can do so much with it,” Murray said. “These stories have been told so many times that it’s almost like a game to see what new thing you can do with it to make it new and interesting and exciting.”

Romeo & Juliet will have ten performances between Feb. 26 – March 19, 2023, including a post-show discussion with cast and crew on Friday, March 17, and two matinee performances for high-school groups.

Read more at The Daily Wildcat
Get tickets to Romeo & Juliet

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Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow.

We are heading into the FINAL weekend of Romeo + Juliet performances! 🥀⚔

Don't miss this production dubbed "imaginative and lush" and "a refreshingly novel experience" by BroadwayWorld! Read more from the review here: tftv.arizona.edu/news/romeo-juliet-reviews-a-refreshingly-novel-experience-from-a-stellar-theatre....

Romeo & Juliet performances continue through Mar. 19, 2023. Tickets are available here: am.ticketmaster.com/uacfa/Romeo&Juliet.

We're also pleased to announce that this semester, college and high school students can now attend any TFTV Theatre production for FREE. Details about the program are available at azart.fyi/freetftvtix.

Photos by Tim Fuller.

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.
... See MoreSee Less

5 days ago
Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow.

We are heading into the FINAL weekend of Romeo + Juliet performances! 🥀⚔

Dont miss this production dubbed imaginative and lush and a refreshingly novel experience by BroadwayWorld! Read more from the review here: https://tftv.arizona.edu/news/romeo-juliet-reviews-a-refreshingly-novel-experience-from-a-stellar-theatre-program/.

Romeo & Juliet performances continue through Mar. 19, 2023. Tickets are available here: https://am.ticketmaster.com/uacfa/Romeo&Juliet.

Were also pleased to announce that this semester, college and high school students can now attend any TFTV Theatre production for FREE. Details about the program are available at azart.fyi/freetftvtix.

Photos by Tim Fuller.

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.Image attachmentImage attachment+7Image attachment
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👏👏👏

Romeo + Juliet Reviews: “A Refreshingly Novel Experience” from a “Stellar Theatre Program”

Romeo + Juliet opened on the Tornabene stage last week, and reviewers from BroadwayWorld 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."

Romeo + Juliet will run through March 19th in the Tornabene Theatre.

Read more highlights from the reviews here: tftv.arizona.edu/news/romeo-juliet-reviews-a-refreshingly-novel-experience-from-a-stellar-theatre-program
... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago
Romeo + Juliet Reviews: “A Refreshingly Novel Experience” from a “Stellar Theatre Program”

Romeo + Juliet opened on the Tornabene stage last week, and reviewers from BroadwayWorld 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 Worlds 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 Griffeys “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.

Romeo + Juliet will run through March 19th in the Tornabene Theatre.

Read more highlights from the reviews here: tftv.arizona.edu/news/romeo-juliet-reviews-a-refreshingly-novel-experience-from-a-stellar-theatre-program
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Photo by Tim Fuller. 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.

Congratulations to all these amazing students and faculty!

Too bad this post left out Kathy Allen’s comment about the Musical Theatre degree being dropped and the quality of actors who can also sing will be lost..

Huge congrats to Lance Guzman (BA Theatre Studies ’17) on his acceptance into the highly competitive MFA Acting Program at CalArts School of Theater in Los Angeles 🎉🎉

“I am very excited to start this next chapter of my career and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for me,” said Guzman. “I am grateful for my time at the University of Arizona, for the opportunity to have been part of the Studio Series, and for the encouragement of Professor Elaine Romero.”

Among many other performances while studying at TFTV, Guzman appeared in the Studio Series’ 'Giants Have Us In Their Books,' directed by Marc Pinate, and 'Mother of Exiles,' part of the U.S./Mexican Border Trilogy by playwright and TFTV Assoc. Prof. Elaine Romero. He also appeared in a number of short films created by Film & Television students including the lead roles in 'A Hunger,' directed by Anthony Cutrone (BFA Film & Television, ’20) and 'Rose,' directed by Linda Varela (BFA ’22). Since graduating, Guzman has been a mainstay in the Tucson theatre scene, appearing in The Scoundrel & Scamp Theatre productions of ‘Salome,’ ‘Mr. Burns,’ ‘Blood Wedding,’ ‘The Little Prince,’ ‘It Is Magic’ and ‘Citizen.’ At The Rogue Theatre, he performed in ‘As You Like It,’ ‘The Oresteia,’ ‘Moby Dick’ and most recently in Lynn Nottage’s Pulitzer-prize winning play, ‘Sweat.’

Bear Down, Lance!
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2 weeks ago
Huge congrats to Lance Guzman (BA Theatre Studies ’17) on his acceptance into the highly competitive MFA Acting Program at CalArts School of Theater in Los Angeles 🎉🎉

“I am very excited to start this next chapter of my career and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for me,” said Guzman. “I am grateful for my time at the University of Arizona, for the opportunity to have been part of the Studio Series, and for the encouragement of Professor Elaine Romero.”

Among many other performances while studying at TFTV, Guzman appeared in the Studio Series’ Giants Have Us In Their Books, directed by Marc Pinate, and Mother of Exiles, part of the U.S./Mexican Border Trilogy by playwright and TFTV Assoc. Prof. Elaine Romero. He also appeared in a number of short films created by Film & Television students including the lead roles in A Hunger, directed by Anthony Cutrone (BFA Film & Television, ’20) and Rose, directed by Linda Varela (BFA ’22). Since graduating, Guzman has been a mainstay in the Tucson theatre scene, appearing in The Scoundrel & Scamp Theatre productions of ‘Salome,’ ‘Mr. Burns,’ ‘Blood Wedding,’ ‘The Little Prince,’ ‘It Is Magic’ and ‘Citizen.’ At The Rogue Theatre, he performed in ‘As You Like It,’ ‘The Oresteia,’ ‘Moby Dick’ and most recently in Lynn Nottage’s Pulitzer-prize winning play, ‘Sweat.’

Bear Down, Lance!
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So thrilled! Congrats, Lance!

Congrats!

Congratulations, Lance!

Congrats, good sir! Well deserved.

Lance Guzman, I think the world of you and I am so very thrilled that you will be at CalArts! Congratulations from your UArizona peeps. I have been so honored to be part of the community that has participated in your trajectory thus far. Also, you write a good play. Don't forget!

Wow that's amazing, so proud of you!!

Congratulations Lance!!🥰

Congratulations!!! Keep Reaching for the Stars 🎬🎭⭐

Congratulations Buddy! Thanks Fantastic!

Congratulations Lance!!

Congratulations Lance!

So proud of you Lance! Keep it up!

Very nice congratulations

That's fabulous! Congrats!

A friend of Erin’s?

Congratulations Lance!!

Good job Lance Guzman! I'm happy you are pushing hard to get what you want!

Way to go Lance!!

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We're proud to announce that 'How Documentaries Work,' the new book by Assoc. Prof. Jacob Bricca, was recently published by Oxford University Press. Last week at the book's launch party, documentary veteran Jack Walsh delivered opening remarks before Bricca read insightful passages from the book and then took part in a lively Q&A.

In addition to his book release, Bricca has been continuing the festival and awards tour for Missing in Brooks County, the award-winning human rights documentary he produced and edited. Last month, he travelled with the film’s directors Lisa Molomot (TFTV Adjunct Instructor) and Jeff Bemiss to New York to attend the duPont-Columbia University Awards, where the film was honored alongside the Oscar-nominated Navalny and the festival darling The Janes, among others.

Congratulations, Prof. Bricca!

Read more about Prof. Bricca's latest achievements here: tftv.arizona.edu/news/assoc-prof-jacob-bricca-releases-new-book-how-documentaries-work-continues-...
... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago
Were proud to announce that How Documentaries Work, the new book by Assoc. Prof. Jacob Bricca, was recently published by Oxford University Press. Last week at the books launch party, documentary veteran Jack Walsh delivered opening remarks before Bricca read insightful passages from the book and then took part in a lively Q&A.

In addition to his book release, Bricca has been continuing the festival and awards tour for Missing in Brooks County, the award-winning human rights documentary he produced and edited. Last month, he travelled with the film’s directors Lisa Molomot (TFTV Adjunct Instructor) and Jeff Bemiss to New York to attend the duPont-Columbia University Awards, where the film was honored alongside the Oscar-nominated Navalny and the festival darling The Janes, among others.

Congratulations, Prof. Bricca!

Read more about Prof. Briccas latest achievements here: https://tftv.arizona.edu/news/assoc-prof-jacob-bricca-releases-new-book-how-documentaries-work-continues-festivals-and-awards-tour-with-film-missing-in-brooks-county/
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Congratulations to TFTV senior Jess Scott on the selection of her play for inclusion in Winding Road Theater Ensemble's May production Eight 10s in Tucson!

Eight 10s is a 10-minute play festival featuring eight original scripts chosen from hundreds of blind submissions from all over the United States, vetted and curated to assemble an eclectic collection of comedies and dramas on themes pertinent to our lives.

"This play was actually the first time I seriously focused on writing a piece," says Jess. "I worked on it over the course of the summer that I initially came out to close friends and family as trans as a way to help come to terms with and understand the beginnings of my gender transition. The piece centers on two young men, one cis, one trans, meeting on a 4 AM bus ride on the hardest night of each of their lives. Professor Roweena Mackay was a huge force in encouraging me to work on my writing during that first semester in the BA when I began work on it, and I can’t thank her enough for doing so. It means a lot to have this piece produced as a part of Eight 10s in Tucson given how much it has meant to me uncovering my identity, and I’m thrilled to be a part of the festival."

Jess, a senior Theatre Studies major, is also serving as the dramaturg for TFTV's upcoming production of HEAD OVER HEELS. And rounding out the year, she'll be directing a piece for the 2023 NEW DIRECTIONS FESTIVAL.

Congratulations, Jess!
... See MoreSee Less

3 weeks ago
Congratulations to TFTV senior Jess Scott on the selection of her play for inclusion in Winding Road Theater Ensembles May production Eight 10s in Tucson! 

Eight 10s is a 10-minute play festival featuring eight original scripts chosen from hundreds of blind submissions from all over the United States, vetted and curated to assemble an eclectic collection of comedies and dramas on themes pertinent to our lives.

This play was actually the first time I seriously focused on writing a piece, says Jess. I worked on it over the course of the summer that I initially came out to close friends and family as trans as a way to help come to terms with and understand the beginnings of my gender transition. The piece centers on two young men, one cis, one trans, meeting on a 4 AM bus ride on the hardest night of each of their lives. Professor Roweena Mackay was a huge force in encouraging me to work on my writing during that first semester in the BA when I began work on it, and I can’t thank her enough for doing so. It means a lot to have this piece produced as a part of Eight 10s in Tucson given how much it has meant to me uncovering my identity, and I’m thrilled to be a part of the festival.

Jess, a senior Theatre Studies major, is also serving as the dramaturg for TFTVs upcoming production of HEAD OVER HEELS. And rounding out the year, shell be directing a piece for the 2023 NEW DIRECTIONS FESTIVAL. 

Congratulations, Jess!
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We're thrilled to present Jess' play! It's phenomenal!

I love a Jess Scott play. I love the work she has been generating here at UArizona. I am so excited for the world to see her work, hear her voice. What a playwright!!!! I am not surprised Winding Road Theater Ensemble wanted to include this play. She's also working on a really cool one as we speak. You will just have to wait!

YASSS JESS!!!

Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean...

Romeo + Juliet opens tomorrow!

Professor Brent Gibbs recently spoke to the fresh presentation of this play. “In the landscape of Shakespeare’s canon Romeo and Juliet, rightly, looms large. With this production we wanted to create a world that unlocks the story for an American audience. To that end we have set our story in Verona, Kentucky just 60 miles from where America’s most famous family feud between the Hatfield and McCoys played out. The setting has proved fortuitous, providing new resonances and revealing new layers of meaning in what promises to be an accessible and highly entertaining telling of this beloved classic.”

This will be the 50th production directed for the School by Prof. Gibbs!

Romeo & Juliet will have performances through Mar. 19, 2023. Tickets are available here: am.ticketmaster.com/uacfa/Romeo&Juliet

We're also pleased to announce that this semester, college and high school students can now attend any TFTV Theatre production for FREE. Details about the program are available at azart.fyi/freetftvtix.

Photos by Tim Fuller.

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.
... See MoreSee Less

3 weeks ago
Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean...

Romeo + Juliet opens tomorrow!

Professor Brent Gibbs recently spoke to the fresh presentation of this play. “In the landscape of Shakespeare’s canon Romeo and Juliet, rightly, looms large. With this production we wanted to create a world that unlocks the story for an American audience. To that end we have set our story in Verona, Kentucky just 60 miles from where America’s most famous family feud between the Hatfield and McCoys played out. The setting has proved fortuitous, providing new resonances and revealing new layers of meaning in what promises to be an accessible and highly entertaining telling of this beloved classic.”

This will be the 50th production directed for the School by Prof. Gibbs!

Romeo & Juliet will have performances through Mar. 19, 2023. Tickets are available here: am.ticketmaster.com/uacfa/Romeo&Juliet

Were also pleased to announce that this semester, college and high school students can now attend any TFTV Theatre production for FREE. Details about the program are available at azart.fyi/freetftvtix.

Photos by Tim Fuller.

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.Image attachmentImage attachment+7Image attachment
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Looks lovely. Wish I could see it. Echoes of "The Rover" Bret Scott

Looks amazing..wish we were there!

Gorgeous set! Looks like a really great production!

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