FINAL WEEKEND: Don't miss Romeo and Juliet

Skidmore's Theater Department will present Romeo and Juliet,Shakespeare's classic tale of forbidden love, feuds, and revenge as viewed through the power and passion of the tango world of Buenos Aires. Performances are scheduledThursday through Sunday, April 21-23, on the main stage of the Janet Kinghorn Bernhard Theater. This marks the final weekend of the performance on campus this spring. 

Director Lary Opitz has set Shakespeare's play in 20 ^th-century Buenos Aires, using Argentine tango as an expression of the play's themes of love and violence. 

Opitz's love of tango was sparked by his work as a lighting designer for the Lim n Dance Company 25 years ago in Buenos Aires. He developed a great appreciation for the artistry and theatricality of tango dance and music in the years since by viewing performances throughout the world. In his director's notes, Optiz writes, "Somewhere along the way I began thinking that tango was the perfect expression for both the violence and the passionate love in Romeo and Juliet."

Music used in the production, during the intermission, and before and after the stage action is by Astor Piazzola, a specialist in "nuevo tango," which took hold in the 1940s. According to Opitz, Piazzola's style is edgier and more aggressive, and strongly related to the Argentine political turmoil of his time.

Opitz proudly notes that the cast has developed some key performing skills as a result of this production: they have learned how to fight and how to dance. For help in fight direction, Optiz asked Doug Seldin '08 to return to campus and serve as fight director. "He was a joy to work with," said Opitz of Seldin, who has extensive experience with Shakespeare and Company.  As a result of Seldin's training, all 20 cast members have learned unarmed stage combat and 11 have gained experience in armed combat.

Barbara Opitz choreographed the show. She danced professionally and taught dance for many years in New York City. To train for this production, she and Lary took private tango lessons before rehearsals began.

Lary Opitz acknowledges that his love affair with Shakespeare began to bloom in 1986, once the Skidmore Shakespeare Programme in London was launched. Until that point, "I had managed to avoid Shakespeare over the years, but this program allowed me to see some of the best Shakespeare imaginable and so I began reading and in 2000, staged Skidmore's first production of Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice," he said.  
  
He has also performed 16-17 roles over 11 years and this summer will portray Shylock for the second time at the Saratoga Shakespeare Company's summer performance of The Merchant of Venice. Said Opitz, "I fell in love with Shakespeare and decided to seize opportunities to direct and to act in productions of Shakespeare. Sharing this with students is my joy now. "

The public is welcome to view Shakespeare's wonderful tale and words, Astor Piazzola's remarkable Nuevo Tango, some exciting dance and stage combat scenes in the Skidmore production.

The cast includes Giancarlo Osaben as Romeo and Christine Pardos as Juliet, Nathaniel Moore as Mercutio and Paul-Emile Cendron as Tybalt, and Elizabeth DeVito as Sister Laurence, a Franciscan nun. 
   
All performances are at 8 p.m. except Sunday, April 17, which is a matinee that starts at 2 p.m.For reservations contact the Skidmore Theater Box Office at 518-580-5439 or e-mail boxoffice@skidmore.edu

Tickets are  $12 each for general admission and $8 each for the Skidmore community and senior citizens. Group rates are available for 10 ormore. For group sales, contact Kathy Mendenhall, 518-580-5431.