Over four centuries ago, Shakespeare first published “Romeo and Juliet.”  Now the play will be performed to locally to aid a problem that is timeless: childhood hunger.  Vintage Theatre will perform the classic play on May 4 at the Uptown Clarksburg Center with all proceeds supporting Bridgeport Junior Woman’s Club’s Feed Our Future Harrison County Backpack Program.

 

The classic play is centered around revenge, love and star-crossed lovers amid feuding families in Shakespeare’s most produced play.  Vintage Theatre Company Founding Producer and Artistic Director, Jason Young, invites audiences to attend the Rustic Mechanicals’ Ancient Grudge Tour, beginning with Romeo and Juliet.  The Rustic Mechanicals, founded by Celi Oliveto, are the only professional Shakespeare troupe. 

 

Educating young people about Shakespeare is paramount in teaching them to reflect on contemporary issues that are threaded through his works. The Rustic Mechanical’s second annual West Virginia Battle of the Bard, a youth Shakespeare competition, took place on April 22.  The event included students from across the state performing the works of Shakespeare, with the conclusion featuring Romeo and Juliet. 

 

After the Battle of the Bard, the troupe will head to Buckhannon Upshur High School, Raleigh Playhouse in Beckley and return to our area for two Bard and BBQ performances in Morgantown.  The final weekend of the tour will bring them back to Harrison County, where they will perform for the Bridgeport Junior’s Feed Our Future Harrison County Backpack Program.  The show will begin at 7:00p.m. at the VTC Caberet in Clarksburg and tickets will be $12 or admission will be free with a donation of non-perishable food items.  Call 1-855-VTC-8588 for additional information.