Romeo and Juliet Redefined a Smashing Success!!

The audiences jumped to their feet each night for this incredible melange of Shakespearean text, ballet, modern dance, Broadway dancing and song.  Director Kristen Coury magically transformed the band shell in Cambier Park into the streets of Verona, replete with banners and balconies.

All photo credits: Amanda Reid, Clear Moon Studio

Chris Peluso Alexandrea Tocco		Chris Peluso Alexandrea Tocco
Chris Peluso Alexandrea Tocco		Amy Lademann and Alexandrea Tocco
Douglas Gawriljuk and Marife Gimenez		Chris Peluso Kern McFadden
Mary Ellen Assue		David Sitler
Douglas Gawriljuk and Marife Gimenez		Douglas Gawriljuk and Marife Gimenez
Chris Peluso Kern McFadden		Alexandrea Tocco
Alexandrea Tocco		Alexandrea Tocco Tamara Flanagan
Bandshell		Christopher Caldwell

 Viewers said:

"You sure have added a touch of Broadway to our area."
 
"We thoroughly enjoyed how you drew from the many ways this story has been told and wove them together into a very memorable evening.  Your production left me with an enriched appreciation of Shakespeare. "
 
"It was less a play for me and more a sensual experience.... food for the heart...Which I loved!!!... I actually felt nostalgic for it days later"

"I loved the flowing of the dresses, flowing of the word sequences and the passion of the actors. My, my, my is all I can say."

"How fortunate for all of us who were lucky enough to experience your "Shakespeare in the Park".  It makes this New Yorker feel a little closer to home. "

"What a great performance!"

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Click Here for Sponsorship Information.

Presenting Sponsor of Romeo and Juliet Redefined 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Gulfshore Playhouse presents an original musical version of “Romeo and Juliet”!
(March 7, 2007, Naples, Florida) – Gulfshore Playhouse is proud to announce its second full-scale production, “Romeo and Juliet Redefined” to be held at the Cambier Park Bandshell, April 19-21, 2007, at 8pm.  Ticket prices are $40 for general admission, $20 for students, and $100 for a VIP ticket which includes priority seating and a “cast party cocktail” at the von Liebig Art Center after the show.

A twist on “Shakespeare in the Park”, Kristen Coury, Gulfshore Playhouse Founder and Producing Artistic Director has conceived a reduced version of Shakespeare’s classic of two star-crossed lovers, with a smattering of opera, ballet, modern dance, Broadway showtunes, and original music thrown in.  “I wanted to create something that was more accessible than just straight Shakespeare,” Coury states.  This allows the spectator to see a classic on stage for perhaps the first time, but in a way that is engaging, enjoyable for all ages, and will leave them humming on the way out of the theatre.”   Although this original piece is a Gulfshore Playhouse production, with Coury directing, support has been provided by local arts groups as well.  Opera Naples, headed by Steffanie Pearce has provided soprano Mary Ellen Assue from their April 22nd production to sing an aria from the Gounod opera “Romeo et Juliette”, and Gulfshore Ballet artistic and executive directors Melinda Roy and Roberto Munoz are going to be choreographing two pas de deux from the Prokofiev ballet.

 “The script follows the arc of the story of Romeo and Juliet with all the extraneous characters removed, and a song or a dance added at appropriate moments.  It is a sort of ‘Romeo and Juliet, the musical”.  Friar Laurence, for example, has is also a narrator, and additional connective narration has been penned by local award-winning author Janina Birtolo.

Coury adds, “Gulfshore Playhouse is so committed to educational opportunities that we are donating 60 tickets to area students to attend a performance, as well as offering intern opportunities to several students as well.  This will be a great opportunity for students to tie their curricula into an accessible, enjoyable evening of culture, stimulation, education and entertainment.”

Coury has hired 5 actors from New York, including Chris Peluso (from Broadway’s “Wicked”) as Romeo and Tamara Flannagan (known to local audience for her star turn in “Syringa Tree”) as Lady Capulet.  Gulfshore Playhouse is proud to introduce Southwest Florida’s own Alexandrea Tocco, as Juliet.  “I was delighted to have the opportunity to be a judge for the Young Artist Awards last year, where I heard 16 year-old Alexandrea sing for the first time,” Coury said. “She is an extraordinary talent is going to bring an enormous amount to our show, and the role of “singing Juliet”.  I’m delighted to be able to introduce her to local audiences in this way because I am sure she will be on Broadway soon!”

“Romeo and Juliet Redefined” will play April 19, 20, and 21 at 8pm at the Cambier Park Bandshell.  VIP cocktail to follow at the von Liebig Art Center.  General admission:  $40, students $20 and VIP tickets $100   For tickets, call the Norris center at 213-3058   www.gulfshoreplayhouse.org
For more information, call Kristen Coury at 239-566-8394

Chris Peluso (Romeo)
is very excited to be in beautiful sunny Naples working here at the Gulfshore Playhouse.  His Broadway credits include ASSASSINS (Balladeer/ Oswald u.s.), Elton John's short lived LESTAT (Louis u.s.), and the original company of the first National Tour of WICKED (Fiyero u.s.).  Favorite regional credits include his most recent
production of the world premiere of ACE (John Robert) at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and The Cincinnati Playhouse,  1776 (Courier) at Ford's Theatre, ILLYRIA (Sebastian) at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, and numerous roles including Jimmy in Thoroughly Modern Millie at the Music Theatre of Wichita (MTW).  Chris can be seen this summer as Joe Hardy in MTW's production of DAMN YANKEES.  His thanks goes out to his family, Maria, and puppy Petey who wishes he could be here with Chris.
 
David Sitler (Friar Laurence)
is thrilled to be making his debut with the Gulfshore Playhouse alfresco and wishes everyone here all the best as the theatre gets a home.  He was last seen as Daddy in Dan Dietz's tempOdyssey at the NJ Rep.  He's been on Broadway ( AN INSPECTOR CALLS), worked with over 20 theatre companies in the NYC area and regionally from Maine to Utah.  Including here in Florida American Stage (WAR OF THE WORLDS), Florida Studio (THE EXONERATED) and Seminole Hard Rock Casino (SINGIN IN THE RAIN).  Film credits include the award winning films TREESHADE, and GHETTO DAWG and the soon to be released SYNAPSE, KEEPSAKE, and HERMAN BOLSTER.  TV credits include LAW AND ORDER-SVU, As the World Turns and Guiding Light.  Thanks to Kristen and the cast and crew and especially wife/actor Carolyn Popp.
 
Tamara Flannagan (Lady Capulet)
recently appeared in The Warrior, a one woman play about a female Iraq war veteran, at Sarasota's Backlot Theatre. She lives in New York City but loves working in her home state of Florida. She is a founding member of the Naples based Neighborhood Theatre Company performing in their productions of By The Sea...By the Beautiful Sea and The Syringa Tree; a one woman, 24 character play, about life in Apartheid South Africa. The performance won her critical acclaim and has toured throughout the state of Florida, most recently with Ft. Lauderdale's Broward Center For The\ Performing Arts. The next stop for The Syringa Tree, directed by Steven Ditmyer, will be a return engagement in Naple's at The Sugden Theatre this May 1st, 7th & 8th. In New York Tamara has worked with such esteemed professionals as Alec Baldwin, Dana Ivey, Tony Randall, Judith Ivey and John Pankow among others. She is a lover of Shakespeare and has performed many of his women (and men.) She is happy to be working with Kristen and The Gulfshore Playhouse. She would like to thank her family and friends, especially The Costantini's, for their overwhelming love and support.