Romeo and Juliet

For the 24th year, Austin Shakespeare brings FREE Shakespeare to Zilker Park. From May 7 to June 7 we present Shakespeare’s most popular play with a new twist: Romeo & Juliet features Shakespeare’s own text, including some Spanish language!

Set in Central Texas in the 1940’s, this production boasts a Central Texas setting with a Mexican-American flavor. This is the timeless story of two young people who fall in love, but whose families have hated one another for so long that they no longer remember the reason.

"This new approach to Romeo and Juliet relishes the beautiful story, exciting characters and thrilling language framed within the Mexican-American culture of South Central Texas," said Artistic Director Ann Ciccolella, who is staging the outdoor production. "We have a cast filled with actors who are dynamic, funny and make Shakespeare totally understandable--even in Spanish."

WHEN: May 7 - June 7, Thursday - Sunday at 8:00PM; special Mother's Day matinee at 2PM (no evening performance); special preview Wednesday May 6.
WHERE: The Sheffield Hillside Theatre at Zilker Park (across the parking lot from Barton Springs pool)

Romeo is played by Collin Bjork, a graduate of the University of Texas Shakespeare at Winedale Program at Round Top, where he played Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Marc Antony in Julius Caesar. Gwen Kelso will play Juliet. Gwen has been in Austin Shakespeare’s Zilker Park production of Much Ado About Nothing, playing the role of the ingénue. Trained at the acclaimed Theater Conservatory at Webster University, she has portrayed both Desdemona in Othello and Portia in The Merchant of Venice. Nationally she has worked with the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Harrisburg Shakespeare Festival, and Lookingglass Theatre in Chicago.

Michael and Celeste Mendoza join the company as the fiery fighter, Tybalt and as Juliet’s elegant mother, Lady Capulet. Originally from San Antonio, Celeste is a published poet and playwright. Michael Mendoza is known as a broadcast journalist, as well as a popular Austin actor. Michael and "Roze" Rosas (Lord Capulet) and Jonathan Itchon (Benvolio) all have performed in ZACH’s Jesus Christo Superestrella. Eva McQuade recently moved from San Antonio and brings warmth and charm to the comic Nurse. Experienced Shakespeare actor Justin Scalise will play Mercutio. Justin has performed in his native New Orleans as Romeo, Mercutio, Puck and Caliban.

Dynamic knife fights will be staged by Austin Shakespeare’s resident fight choreographer, Tina Gramman. Light designer John Ore has taught for 14 years at Southwestern University. The set designer is Scott Guthrie, who is also designing the upcoming Long Day’s Journey into Night. The costume designer is Kim Ngo, who recently designed St. Edwards University’s Cyrano. Michael McKelvey brings original music to the production.

Austin Shakespeare presents professional theatre of the highest quality with an emphasis on the plays of William Shakespeare, bringing to the public performances that are fresh, imaginative, thought-provoking, and eminently accessible, connecting the truths of the past with the challenges and possibilities of today. Founded in
1984 Austin Shakespeare is the only professional classic theatre company in Central Texas. Austin Shakespeare offers fall and spring sessions of “Shakespeare Studio,” the organization’s professional actor training courses. In addition, actors, newcomers, teachers, parents and students are welcome at the “Shakespeare Aloud” weekly reading group. Austin Shakespeare also offers three summer camps for high school students and middle schoolers at St. Edward's University, and camps for children ages 6 - 9 years at Scottish Rite Children’s Theatre. Austin Shakespeare will return for the month of May 2009 with Free Shakespeare in Zilker Park. Austin Shakespeare also brings professional actors and directors directly into the classroom.  For more information on school programs and the 2009 season, contact Austin Shakespeare Managing Director Alex Alford at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Austin Shakespeare is a member of the Austin Circle of Theatres, and is funded in part by the City of Austin through The Cultural Arts Division and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts.

ANN CICCOLELLA joined Austin Shakespeare as Artistic Director in August 2007, following an eight-year tenure at Austin’s ZACH Theatre as managing director and executive director at Austin Circle of Theaters for nine years. A long-standing arts director and producer, Ciccolella led the Renaissance Theater Company for ten years, producing and directing Off-Off Broadway shows. Prior moving to Austin, Ciccolella served for three years as associate director for SHAKESPEARE ON WHEELS, from the University of Maryland, Baltimore Country. In 2007, Ann received a "Distinguished Service Award" from the City Council for her advocacy in building the creative community of Austin.