The Curtain — Jersey City’s premier classical theatre — has opened their Jazz Age adaptation of William Shakespeare’s classic Romeo & Juliet, directed and adapted by producing artistic director Sean Hagerty. Leading the cast are Italian actress and Venice Film Festival Pasinetti Award winner Anita Pomario (The Macaluso Sisters) in her American stage debut as ’˜Juliet’; and Aria Shahghasemi (series regular on CW’s The Originals & spin-off Legacies) as ’˜Romeo’). The story needs no introduction, but an age-old vendetta between two powerful families erupting into bloodshed is the most timeless play ever written. It’s an unforgettable story of generational divides, forbidden love, and star-crossed fates. Set at the dawn of the Jazz Age, this diverse and star-studded production of the classic tale features some of Shakespeare’s most breathtaking language and poetry. In partnership with Nimbus Dance, the production, playing through October 22, 2023, features a rollicking ’˜20s dance number.
Anita Pomario
Pomario and Shahghasemi are joined by Andrew Sellon (Mr. Penn, recurring on FOX’s “Gotham”) as ’˜Friar Laurence’, Mark Torres (Amadeus on Broadway) as ’˜Capulet’, Thia Stephan (Shakespeare@’s Hamlet and Julius Caesar) as ’˜Lady Capulet’, and Christianna Nelson (Shakespeare & Co. member) as ’˜The Nurse’. Completing the cast are Joshua T. Crockett, Jonathan Dauermann, Ariel Diaz-Beato, Ido Gal, Tucker Lewis, Francis Mateo, Jomack Miranda, Miles Segura, Joe Staton, and Mark Torres.
Aria Shahghasemi
The creative team for The Curtain’s Romeo & Juliet will feature Sean Hagerty (Director & Adaptor), William Ward (Costume Design), Olivia Loverde (Lighting Design), the Emmy-winning team Sonic Designs (Sound Design), Nora Leonhardt (Voice and Speech Coach), Brad Lemons (Fight Director & Intimacy Coordinator), and Harumi Elders (Choreographer). The production will be stage managed by Allison Hohman. Casting is by Robin Carus, CSA.
photos by Will O’Hare
Romeo & Juliet
The Curtain at Nimbus Arts Center, 329 Warren Street in DT Jersey City
(just steps from the PATH train)
ends on October 22.2023
for tickets ($25, visit The Curtain
Aria Shahghasemi and Anita Pomario in The Curtain's ROMEO & JULIET
ABOUT THE CURTAIN
THE CURTAIN was founded to deliver accessible interpretations of classic works with a focus on international and cross-cultural exchange. Their debut, under the moniker Shakespeare@ Grace Church, was a lush 2019 production of Hamlet starring Jonathan Forbes (Amazon’s “Catastrophe”) and SAG Award nominee Eden Brolin (Paramount’s “Yellowstone”). After COVID hit in 2020, Producing Artistic Director Sean Hagerty re-structured the company’s format to ensure they continued productions, employed artists, and served their mission by conceiving of the all-sonic performance project, Shakespeare@ Home. Partnering with the Emmy-winning team at Sonic Designs, they set out to recapture the great heyday of serialized radio drama of the 1930s and ’˜40s. The productions: Richard II (starring Jamie Ballard, Harry Potter from the West End’s …Cursed Child), The Tempest (starring RSC veteran David Hargreaves), and Julius Caesar (starring Tony nominee and Grammy winner Patrick Page).
Mark Torres, Anita Pomario, Christianna Nelson, and Thia Stephan
Anita Pomario
Miles Segura, Jomack Miranda, Tucker Lewis, and Aria Shahghasemi
Tucker Lewis and Audrey Lipson
Aria Shahghasemi, Jomack Miranda, and Tucker Lewis
Anita Pomario and Aria Shahghasemi
Tucker Lewis
Anita Pomario and Christianne Nelson
Aria Shahghasemi and Andrew Sellon
Thia Stephan and Mark Torres
Anita Pomario and Aria Shahghasemi
