Romeo and Juliet

VCU Theatre and Dance Department’s production of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet ran from October 1st through 4th, 2026. Romeo and Juliet is an exploration of identity, archetype, and the navigation of internal desire in relation to the external expression of the self. In what ways do we elect to “perform” roles that are often out of alignment with our true inner selves? When the comedy of life turns tragic, how can we break from constricting societal expectations, cultural limitations, and inherited trauma to expand through perceived endless cycles and into undefined territory? 

In this production, the timeless tale and classic text are approached from a collective of unique perspectives that dare to confront both the structure of the story itself and the intentional framing of it. In the midst of overwhelming life circumstances, how can we empower ourselves to reclaim what was always ours to hold dear?

View the Romeo and Juliet playbill here.

Director: Irene J. Kuykendall

Scenic Designer:  Chris Raintree

Costume Designer: Kendra Rai+

Lighting Designer: BJ Wilkinson

Sound Designer: Maggie Root

Assistant Directors: Elliot Cooper & Ryan Heazel

Intimacy Coordinator and Acting Coach: Emily J. Mattison

Voice and Text Director: Karen Kopryanski*

Fight Choreographer: Toby O’Brien

Production Stage Manager: Cristlin Feniza

Technical Director: Joel Ernst

Production Supervisor: Bonnie Brady *