CofC Stages and the College of Charleston’s Department of Theatre and Dance continue its 2025-2026 Pulse and Passion season with one of Shakespeare’s best-known and well-loved tragedies Romeo and Juliet. This classic tale of hope and heartbreak, rival families, star-crossed lovers, and deadly duels opens in the Simons Center for the Arts Black Box Theatre on Thursday, February 19th, with performances running through Thursday, February 26th.
“Romeo and Juliet is perhaps best known as a ‘romantic tragedy,’ but our production leans into the humor,” remarks Professor of Theatre Evan Parry, who serves as the production’s director. “Characters like Mercutio and the Nurse offer great comic relief.”
Parry also provides fight direction for the play, which features some classic fight sequences. Actors will perform hand-to-hand combat, with rapiers (a classic, long-bladed sword), and with rapier-daggers (fights in which an actor uses both a sword and a dagger). “The cast and I approached the fights in the play collaboratively,” says Parry. “Inviting the actors into the development of the fight choreography allowed them to bring their character work into the process.”
The cast features Theatre majors Emma Bennett, Jay Davis, AK Dennis, Benji Gray-Miller, Ryan Greene, Maddy Hall, Ellie Hambrook, Mollie Hamm, Jack Hipp, Jonathan Hoofnagle, Natalie Montserrat, Paeton Patterson, Carsyn Ridgeway, Ellie Schrupp, Gabby Smith, Lena Towne, Journey Townsend, and Bella Winder. Rounding out the cast are students Ben Chamblee, Mac Courtney, Abby Distaulo, Gino Hemerlein, Amelia Lacy, and Ryka Khanna.
The design team consists of Theatre majors Zoe Jocassee Barber (costume design), Hannah Moore (lighting design), and Sarah Poteat (properties design). Visiting Assistant Professor of Scenic Design Jay Olvera serves as scenic designer and adjunct lecturer Caleb S. Garner provides sound design. The production team also includes alumna Bristol Barnes ‘24 as the stage manager and student Stacy Rabon as assistant director.
IF YOU GO
When:
- Thursday, February 19 at 7:30 p.m.
- Friday, February 20 at 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, February 21 at 2:00 p.m.
- Saturday, February 21 at 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, February 22 at 2:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, February 24 at 7:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, February 25 at 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, February 26 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Simons Center Black Box Theatre, 54 Saint Philip St., Charleston, S.C. 29401
Tickets: Individual tickets range from $16–$25, including discounts for seniors, military, veterans, and youth under 18, as well as for College of Charleston students, faculty and staff.
Buy tickets ONLINE or from the George Street Box Office in person at 44 George St., by emailing gsbo@cofc.edu, or calling (843) 953-4726.
Event Link: go.charleston.edu/nowplaying
Recommended for ages 12+ (Content advisory: contains depictions of violence)