LADY CAPULET

What Caused the Feud between the Montagues & Capulets?

Jianzi Colón-Soto and Preston Fox. Photo by Kent Fairfield.

Marlena Holman as the Nurse. Photo by Emily Hewitt.

Nominated for “Best Adaptations & Modernizations" in 2020 & 2021 by New York Shakespeare
This prequel to Romeo & Juliet follows the journey of Rose from country girl to matriarch, navigating her repression and power in 16th Century Verona.

Jianzi Colón-Soto and Preston Fox. Photo by Kent Fairfield.

The whole story in one photo! Andrew Dunn, Jianzi Colón-Soto, and Preston Fox. Photo by Emily Hewitt.

FINALIST: Henley Rose Playwright Competition for Women, 2017

Produced by Barefoot Shakespeare Company
Directed by Emily Gallagher
Assistant Director & Fight Direction by Robert Aronowitz
Music composed by Lord Graham Russell of Air Supply
Rose's Gowns by Lifetime Tony Honoree Sally Ann Parsons
https://barefootshakespeare.org/category/lady-capulet/
WATCH VIDEO HERE: performed by Barefoot Shakespeare Ensemble

Andrew Dunn, Jianzi Colón-Soto and Jefferson Reardon. Photo by Michelle V. Agins.

Jianzi Colón-Soto. Gown by Sally Ann Parsons.

Tybalt, the king of cats.

“Melissa Bell reimagines the life of Juliet’s mother in the years before the events of Romeo & Juliet in this classical prequel.” –Time Out NY
"Tantalizing ... Maybe [Shakespeare] had one this whole time and just kept it to himself… it’s a juicy one” -- Tami Shaloum, Round the World Stage 8/24/19
"Exquisite... LADY CAPULET is riveting, original and beautifully crafted. Brava!" --John Higgins, Actor, Sesame Street former producer
"LADY CAPULET deserved that standing O" --Cate Cammarata, Off Broadway Producer
“...a real achievement ...fully realized and captured well by its actors.” Yvette Nachmias-Baeu, writer and former actor.
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"The place NURSE holds in ROSE's life works really well to help us see how - outside of Nurse - she's really not well watched after. This lacking amount of care given to her beyond Nurse - and the lack of real power over Rose that Nurse has - makes for the most compelling fundamental element of Rose's character, as well as highlighting and adding depth to how she turns into the Lady Capulet everyone knows." --Screencraft

Left: Jianzi Colón-Soto as Lady Capulet, with Preston Fox as Montague. Photo by Kent Fairfield

The inspiration for writing LADY CAPULET came from this challenge made by Ben Brantley in his review of review of Romeo + Juliet at the Classic Stage Company. "Perhaps this production will inspire some young Tom Stoppard type to come up with his own “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead”-style rewriting of “Romeo and Juliet,” seen from the perspective of her wanton ladyship." NY TImes 2013

Jianzi Colón-Soto and Preston Fox.

Andrew Dunn and Jianzi Colón-Soto

Andrew Dunn

Jianzi Colón-Soto and Jefferson Reardon

Lady Rose Capulet: Jianzi Colón-Soto

Summit Rock in Central Park, August 2019.
Photos by Emily Hewitt Photography

The Lady Capulet Quartet! Laura Zawarski, Emily Duncan, Hunter Fink, Violet Wang playing music composed for the show by Graham Russell (Air Supply)

CAST: Barefoot Shakespeare Company's Production 2019 in Central Park
Lady Capulet - Jianzi Colón-Soto
Montague - Preston Fox
Lord Capulet - Andrew Dunn
Nurse - Marlena Holman
Lucio - Jefferson Reardon

THE LADY CAPULET QUARTET
Violet Wang - Cello/Juliet
Hunter Fink - Guitar/Romeo/Musical Director/Arrangements
Laura Zawarski - Baroque Violin/Helena
Emily Duncan - Flute/Prince of Verona
Musical Arranger- Josh Freilich

Recent productions include:
The Little Shakespeare Festival: Aug 3&5, 2023
The Bedford Playhouse, July 29, 2023
BERNIE WOHL CENTER, 647 Columbus Ave, Saturday, Oct 2, 2021 at 2pm
This program was made possible by the New York City Artist Corps and NYFA.
FARM ARTS COLLECTIVE, 38 Hickory Lane, Damascus PA
Saturday & Sunday, Sept 25&26 at 2pm
SUMMIT ROCK in Central Park, New York City
August 22- September 1, 2019