Great news for theater fans and Shakespeare-philes alike: Those perpetually star-crossed lovers are coming back to Broadway in a fresh new production of Romeo and Juliet courtesy of British director David Leveaux, who was last represented on the main stem by the revival of Arcadia a few years back.
Notably, as the New York Times and other sources are reporting, this production will present Shakespeare’s teenage duo as an interracial couple: Orlando Bloom, who made his London stage debut in 2007 after his breakthrough role as Legolas in the “Lord of the Rings” movies, will play Romeo. Condola Rashad, a Tony nominee for Stick Fly and about to open in The Trip to Bountiful, will be Juliet. The play is to begin previews Aug. 24 for a Sept. 19 opening at the Richard Rodgers Theater. Jayne Houdyshell will play the Nurse and Joe Morton will be Lord Capulet, with additional casting to be announced.
And for those who prefer New York City's Off-Broadway vibe, indie film darling Elizabeth Olsen will also be starring in a production of Romeo and Juliet right around the same time at Classic Stage Company. (And while Olsen has come to fame in Hollywood, she's no theater neophyte, having worked twice as an understudy in the 2009 Broadway play Impressionism and in the 2008 Off Broadway play “Dust.”)
For more info and tickets to the off-Broadway R&J, visit www.classicstage.org. Details about tickets to the Broadway production will be available soon.