Orlando Bloom & Condola Rashad to star in Romeo&Juliet Revival on Broadway

[PlayItAgain]

Posted: 4/1/13 at 10:41am

not a april fools joke, even though i really thought it was for a second

so were going to have two high profile revivals of this at the same time? (the other being the CSC production with Elizabeth Olson)


Romeo & Juliet Returning To Broadway, Set To Play Richard Rodgers Theater

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 4/1/13 at 10:42am

I thought this was an April Fool's joke as well.

[PlayItAgain]

Posted: 4/1/13 at 10:44am

they picked a really bad day to announce this lol

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/1/13 at 10:47am

I like the two of them, but do we really need this revival?

[PlayItAgain]

Posted: 4/1/13 at 10:48am

it technically hasn't been on broadway in over 35 years.

[OrdinaryJukebox]

Posted: 4/1/13 at 10:48am

oh god ...

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/1/13 at 10:50am

I know that, but it's still the most produced Shakespeare play ever, hence my "do we really need this revival" comment. It's like OKLAHOMA. You can travel 10 minutes away from your home anytime of the year to find a production of it, so if you're going to mount it on Broadway and charge those prices for it, it had better be something truly impressive.

[madbrian]

Posted: 4/1/13 at 10:52am

I have problem with a production of Romeo & Juliet on Broadway, however I do question a 36 year old Romeo and a 26 year old Juliet.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/1/13 at 11:02am

Yeah, I love the casting of Rashad, her performance in RUINED was unforgettable, but she was probably more appropriate for the role of Juliet at that age. I'd love to see the show cast with really young actors, though the problem is, how do you find younger actors who are able to handle all that Shakespeare? It's a nearly impossible task.

[Kad]

Posted: 4/1/13 at 11:11am

Eh, I'm more excited for the Elizabeth Olsen production.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/1/13 at 11:11am

Shia Labeouf is free.

[peachesr82]

Posted: 4/1/13 at 11:22am

I remember having to be dragged to see him in In Celebration in the West End when he was at the height of his fame. I don't know about now, or doing Shakespeare and I wouldn't say it clearly wasn't a career changing debut but he was certainly a different creature on stage and was really quite good.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/1/13 at 11:25am

Kad, what is the Elizabeth Olsen production? She'd be fantastic.

[jeffmiele]

Posted: 4/1/13 at 11:27am

Problems with the idea aside, I am very excited to see Jane as the Nurse

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/1/13 at 11:28am

Isn't Midsummer Night's Dream the most produced?

[Lefou]

Posted: 4/1/13 at 12:03pm

Elizabeth Olson is going to be playing Juliet Off-Broadway @ CSC in the Fall. I'm sure it's going to be a gorgeous production.

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 4/1/13 at 12:33pm

Meh. Bring Mariah Gale across the pond.

[aaronb]

Posted: 4/1/13 at 12:42pm

I'm torn between being happy that Shakespeare is on Broadway and being pissed that it stars Orlando Bloom.

Also, Red Bull announced that Tom Cruise is going to star in their Hamlet with Steven Spielberg directing, so I'd wait until April 2nd to confirm this one.

[madbrian]

Posted: 4/1/13 at 12:47pm

I'd love to see Juliet played by an age appropriate actress. First name that came to mind was Ariel Winter (Modern Family). Maybe with Freddie Highmore as Romeo.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/1/13 at 12:59pm

I also find the "interracial" aspect has the potential of being a little gimmicky, of course if there's any Shakespearean play that lends itself to this kind of question is ROMEO & JULIET, but don't we have WEST SIDE STORY for that? I'd rather they cast it with a multiracial cast across the board.

[kadu335]

Posted: 4/1/13 at 1:00pm

Is this Bloom's Broadway debut?

It's been a while since I last saw him in anything. I have a friend who looks exactly like him ...

[Vespertine1228]

Posted: 4/1/13 at 1:05pm

I guess if Paul Giamatti can play Hamlet at 45 then Orlando Bloom can play Romeo at 36.

In the mean time, I'd like to submit my resume and headshot to play Annie.

[wonkit]

Posted: 4/1/13 at 1:10pm

I may be wrong but I believe the R&J by Royal Shakespeare Company at the Armory was inter-racial.

[newintown]

Posted: 4/1/13 at 1:19pm

I've seen many inter-racial R&Js; universities do it all the time. Along with Midsummer, it's the easiest Shakespeare for young actors to do.

In fact, I almost always enjoy seeing young unknowns in this one; I can't say that these two inspire any interest from me.

Nor do I really much enjoy Shakespeare on Broadway - it generally goes wonky. Leave it to the Public, Lincoln Center, and Brit troupes. They always do it better.

[OrdinaryJukebox]

Posted: 4/1/13 at 1:40pm

This is so gimmick-y and wrong and desperate. Neither of these people should be cast in this production.