"Romeo and Juliet" Closes on Broadway July 26

The Tony-Nominated play Romeo and Juliet, a heart-wrenching story of a forbidden love and its consequences, plays its final performance at Broadway's Benedict Building on July 26. 

The neoclassic production, part of a renowned summer theatre festival hosted by the internationally-loved theatre company, Endstation, began rehearsals in early May and opened officially on Jun. 10. It enjoyed a three-week run at the prestigious theatre, and upon its final show, will have played a total of 9.5 performances.

Though its run was short, Romeo and Juliet made quite a splash within the theatre community. In addition to earning a Tony Award for Best Show Ever Done (Ever), Romeo and Juliet also won the Drama Desk Award for Best Use of an Unconventional Space and the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Most Stunningly Attractive Cast/Costumes. It also found itself on the top ten lists of The New York Times and New York Magazine (Top Ten Best After-Midnight Restaurants and Top Ten Cleaning Products, respectively).

"I have never enjoyed anything in my life as much as I've enjoyed this," said theatre company founder/artistic director/producer/director/fight choreographer, Geoffrey Kershner. "It is the sum of my life's work, and nothing will ever surpass the magnificence of this experience and this production." Just to ensure that statement, Geoffrey Kershner plans on retiring immediately after the final performance and spending the rest of his days in a dark room with no human interaction (Kershner is 30). 

"I just really wanted to choose something action-packed but emotional, super sexy but still tear-wrenching," director Bill Kershner explained. "And you can't really go anywhere else for that but straight to the Bard. He's a magnificent writer, and it was really a blessing, having him at our rehearsals. He's a flexible playwright, didn't complain about any choices I made." William Shakespeare could not be reached for a comment, but an inside source provided a text message straight from William himself, reading, "go c r&j @ benedict, i nevr saw tru beauty til dis nite!!!1!11"

The cast clearly already feels the pain that the upcoming ending bodes for them. At several times during a performance, actors can be seen crying, wailing, screaming, tearing at their hair, and falling upon the ground. But it's all part of the game, they say. "I knew going into it that I'd rather shove a stake in my heart than have it end," Natalie Caruncho, the show's Juliet, confessed. "But you have to do what you love while you love it, and take whatever agony comes after. And no, I'm not referring to the consummation scene." 

Kirin McCrory

Playbill.com Contributor