In addition to Adam Barrie as Student 1/Romeo and Ashley Robinson (Giant, Wicked) as Student 2/Juliet, the four-person cast includes Paul Terzenbach as Student 3/Mercutio and TJ Linnard as Student 4/Tybalt.

According to TheaterWorks, "Shakespeare's R&J spins the classic story of history's most famous doomed lovers into a modern tale of teenage awakening. The play explores youthful desires, vulnerability and burgeoning sexuality as four students at a repressive preparatory school discover Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. As the schoolboys find themselves immersed in the tragic story of forbidden love, they assume the roles of all the play's characters and the tale begins to blur with their own lives and Shakespeare's verse is heard anew."

Designing the production are Brian Prather (sets), Matthew Richards (lighting) and Vincent Olivieri (sound).

Calarco directed the New York City premiere of R&J which bowed in the East Village in 1997 prior to transferring Off-Broadway to the John Houseman Studio Theater in 1998, earning a Lucille Lortel Award. The play also enjoyed a successful West End run.

Tickets to Shakespeare's R&J at TheaterWorks, 233 Pearl Street in Hartford, CT, are available by calling (860) 527-7838.

For more information visit the TheaterWorks website at theaterworkshartford.org.