Any buzz on Romeo and Juliet?

[jakethesnake]

Any buzz on Romeo and Juliet?#1

Posted: 5/28/26 at 11:19pm

It’s been running for over a week at Shakespeare in the Park and I have yet to see a post about it. Anyone seen it yet?   How have the lines been for tickets?

[TapDanceGal]

Any buzz on Romeo and Juliet?#2

Posted: 5/29/26 at 6:11am

I was there the first night. It was my first time ever at Shakespeare in the Park. It was long. It was three hours and it felt like three hours. A lot of people left at intermission. People were leaving throughout the second half. It was over around 11:10pm. Then they had a real wedding after. 

I did the in-person lottery at the Public. Everyone got a ticket. 

[Fred Mason]

Any buzz on Romeo and Juliet?#3

Posted: 5/29/26 at 12:32pm

There is no buzz because nobody cares about Romeo and Juliet and because there are no big names attached. 

[willep]

Any buzz on Romeo and Juliet?#4

Posted: 5/29/26 at 12:48pm

I was at the first performance and it was a big miss for my partner and me.

[TotallyEffed]

Any buzz on Romeo and Juliet?#5

Posted: 5/29/26 at 12:53pm

Fred Mason said: "There is no buzz because nobody cares about Romeo and Juliet and because there are no big names attached."

 

Hush.

[ColorTheHours048]

Any buzz on Romeo and Juliet?#6

Posted: 5/29/26 at 1:01pm

A handful of folks I know have seen it. Unfortunately, the buzz isn’t great (underbaked US/Mexican border concept, uneven performances). Sounds like a skip unless you’re a “must see every Shakespeare in the Park production” completist.

[Sutton Ross]

Any buzz on Romeo and Juliet?#7

Posted: 5/29/26 at 1:02pm

jakethesnake said: "It’s been running for over a week at Shakespeare in the Park and I have yet to see a post about it. Anyone seen it yet? How have the lines been for tickets?"

Despite it saying it's only 2 hours and 40 minutes, it went over 3 hours. Many people left. Due to the relatively unknown cast, it's a very easy ticket to access. Usually, these productions have major celebrities attached, so I understand the huge lack of interest. It was...fine. 

[TotallyEffed]

Any buzz on Romeo and Juliet?#8

Posted: 5/29/26 at 1:14pm

The website was only recently updated to 2 hours and 40. It said 3 hours a few days ago. I've heard they are making significant trims. I will try to catch it this weekend.

 

(I love Romeo and Juliet)

[Kad]

Any buzz on Romeo and Juliet?#9

Posted: 5/29/26 at 1:32pm

I am very surprised it was running that long. Even though the park remains open, there are noise ordinances that prevent events like Shakespeare in the Park from going too late.

"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."

[Sutton Ross]

Any buzz on Romeo and Juliet?#10

Posted: 5/29/26 at 1:55pm

ColorTheHours048 said: "A handful of folks I know have seen it. Unfortunately, the buzz isn’t great (underbaked US/Mexican border concept, uneven performances). Sounds like a skip unless you’re a “must see every Shakespeare in the Park production” completist."

I get Saheem Ali wanted to make it fresh, but I didn't think that worked very well. This article sheds a bit more light on the border concept which honestly is the last thing people want to think about when trying to escape for a few hours.

[OhHiii]

Any buzz on Romeo and Juliet?#11

Posted: 5/29/26 at 2:31pm

These productions need to understand what should have been learned post-2016. Shows that are literally about current events, especially those associated with the loon in the White House and his policies are NOT what people want to see right now. We're living it. We don't need to spend another 3 hours watching it dramatized. 

[ColorTheHours048]

Any buzz on Romeo and Juliet?#12

Posted: 5/29/26 at 2:42pm

Sutton Ross said: "This article sheds a bit more light on the border concept which honestly is the last thing people want to think about when trying to escape for a few hours."

For what it’s worth, I don’t imagine there are many people going to Romeo and Juliet for escapism. I’d say people are tired of heavy-handed sociopolitical concepts more than they’re seeking apoliticism altogether.

[InTheBathroom1]

Any buzz on Romeo and Juliet?#13

Posted: 5/29/26 at 2:48pm

Has Saheem directed a good Shakespeare in the Park?

Also, I can't imagine sitting through a three hour R&J and then having to sit through a wedding.

[OhHiii]

Any buzz on Romeo and Juliet?#14

Posted: 5/29/26 at 2:49pm

Apolitical and literally dramatizing a US border/immigration policy that's happening right now are opposite ends of the spectrum. Obviously, productions that have leaned into themes of the moment, etc have always done well. As you say, it's the heavy handed "LOOK AT THIS MOMENT WE ARE IN!!!!" approach that turns people off.

[GottaGetAGimmick420]

Any buzz on Romeo and Juliet?#15

Posted: 5/29/26 at 4:00pm

Everything on reddit has been mixed to negative about this one

I'm just here so I don't get fined

[willep]

Any buzz on Romeo and Juliet?#16

Posted: 5/29/26 at 5:33pm

InTheBathroom1 said: "Has Saheem directed a good Shakespeare in the Park?

Also, I can't imagine sitting through a three hour R&J and then having to sit through a wedding."

I very much enjoyed his Twelfth Night last year. 

[Matt Rogers]

Any buzz on Romeo and Juliet?#17

Posted: 5/29/26 at 7:32pm

Fred Mason said: "There is no buzz because nobody cares about Romeo and Juliet and because there are no big names attached."

New screen name, Flash? Nobody cares about Romeo and Juliet? That’s pretty f*cking funny. What’s your source for that little nugget of wisdom? Here’s a hint. You speak for yourself only - not the entire populace of the world. 

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Any buzz on Romeo and Juliet?#18

Posted: 5/29/26 at 8:00pm

GottaGetAGimmick420 said: "Everything on reddit has been mixed to negative about this one"

I have friends who walked out, and their main gripe was that they had no idea this was going to be partially in Spanish without translation, though I suspect they were also turned off by the politics in a way I would not be. 

[BroadwayGirl107]

Any buzz on Romeo and Juliet?#19

Posted: 5/29/26 at 9:02pm

willep said: "InTheBathroom1 said: "Has Saheem directed a good Shakespeare in the Park?

Also, I can't imagine sitting through a three hour R&J and then having to sit through a wedding."

I very much enjoyed his Twelfth Night last year."

 

I hated it. It was genuinely the worst production of Twelfth Night I’ve ever seen—including college productions. It was shallow & vapid & avoided any deeper themes of the material.

 

The only thing holding it together was the sheer amount of talent in the cast—and Ali’s direction still somehow made most of them look pretty bad.

 

I really wish The Public would stop hiring Ali to direct Shakespeare.  

 

[willep]

Any buzz on Romeo and Juliet?#20

Posted: 5/29/26 at 9:54pm

I'm that vein, my partner and I wonder how the choreographer keeps getting work. Suffs choreo was pretty bland, Urinetown choreo was pretty bland, choreo here was just...bad. 

[Kad]

Any buzz on Romeo and Juliet?#21

Posted: 5/29/26 at 11:08pm

Ali’s directing resume is incredibly spotty for somebody in such a prominent position and arguably the successor apparent to Oskar Eustis. 

"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."

[TheQuibbler]

Any buzz on Romeo and Juliet?#22

Posted: 5/29/26 at 11:46pm

Is it so much to ask just for a straightforward production of Romeo and Juliet? At this point it’s almost radical to do it without a capital C Concept. 

[Fordham2015]

Any buzz on Romeo and Juliet?#23

Posted: 5/30/26 at 9:00am

TheQuibbler said: "Is it so much to ask just for a straightforward production ofRomeo and Juliet? At this point it’s almost radical to do it without a capital C Concept."

There was a straightforward production at Hartford Stage last year that was quite good

[CoffeeBreak]

Any buzz on Romeo and Juliet?#24

Posted: 5/30/26 at 10:35am

Kad said: "Ali’s directing resume is incredibly spotty for somebody in such a prominent position and arguably the successor apparent to Oskar Eustis."

Agree.  They definitely need a previously performed strong piece or great director/choreographer to look impressive (i.e. FAT HAM / BVSC).   Otherwise ... 

[TNick926]

Any buzz on Romeo and Juliet?#25

Posted: 5/30/26 at 5:04pm

I was deeply impressed and moved by the Broadway production of ROMEO AND JULIET last year with Rachel Ziegler and Kit O’Connor. I wonder if the success of that production has caused the somewhat lackluster reception and interest in this NYSF production?