2026
The Tragedy of
Romeo & Juliet
Performances
The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, often shortened to Romeo and Juliet, is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare about the romance between two young Italians from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetime and, along with Hamlet, is one of his most frequently performed. The title characters are regarded as archetypal young lovers.
The play, set in Verona, Italy, begins with a street brawl between Montague and Capulet servants who, like the masters they serve, are sworn enemies.
Persuaded by Benvolio and Mercutio, Romeo attends the ball at the Capulet house in hopes of meeting Rosaline. However, Romeo instead meets and falls in love with Juliet.
From Wikipedia
Cast
- Romeo Eli StachowskeSon of Montague
- Benvolio AJ LandinghamMontague cousin of Romeo
- Balthasar Aiden LeakeMontague servant
- Abraham Nate AdamsMontague servant
- Lord Montague Rob FlumignanFather of Romeo
- Lady Montague Autumn CadotteMother of Romeo
- Juliet Ella FlumignanDaughter of Capulet
- Tybalt Kyler MattoonCapulet cousin of Juliet
- Sampson Max RuffCapulet servant
- Gregory Eric HuffmanCapulet servant
- Lord Capulet Bryan ShaneFather of Juliet
- Lady Capulet Cassidy GiddensMother of Juliet
- Nurse Makana LuanaCapulet servant to Juliet
- Mercutio Nate AdamsFriend of Romeo, related to Prince
- Count Paris Eric HuffmanIntended for Juliet, related to Prince
- Prince Escalus Justin KohlrussPrince of Verona
- Friar Lawrence Max RuffFranciscan who marries Romeo & Juliet
- Friar John Aiden LeakeFriend of Friar Lawrence
- Prologue/Apothecary Mark ScherstenSells poison to Romeo
2025
Much Ado About Nothing
- DirectorStephen Kiersey
- Production ManagerJohn MacNaughton
- ChoreographerJessica Briggs
- Set DesignerDouglas Miller
- CostumerPam Adair
- Stage ManagerElizabeth Olgren
- PropertiesJustin Kohlruss
- Intimacy CoordinatorSabriyah Davis
Written in 1598, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING is a romantic comedy whose plot turns on the courtship and scandal involving young Hero and her suitor, Claudio, but the war of words between Claudio’s friend Benedick and Hero’s cousin Beatrice often takes center stage. When Don Pedro’s army returns after victory to Messina, Claudio is smitten with Hero while Benedick and Beatrice swear they will remain unmarried despite a clear attraction to each other barely hidden by their witty banter. Don Pedro and the others set about tricking Benedick and Beatrice into falling in love with each other. Meanwhile, Don Pedro’s disgruntled brother, Don John, plots to ruin Hero and halt her wedding. One of Shakespeare’s beloved comedic characters, Dogberry the verbose and nonsensical Constable, is determined to foil Don John’s plot. As in true comedic fashion, everything ends well and the play concludes with a double wedding.
2024
A Midsummer Night's Dream
- DirectorStephen Kiersey
- Production ManagerJohn MacNaughton
- ChoreographerJessica Briggs
- Set DesignerDouglas Miller
- CostumerRosemary Olsaver
- Stage ManagerElizabeth Olgren
A Midsummer Night's Dream is a comedy play written by William Shakespeare in about 1595 or 1596. The play is set in Athens, and consists of several subplots that revolve around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. One subplot involves a conflict among four Athenian lovers. Another follows a group of six amateur actors rehearsing the play which they are to perform before the wedding. Both groups find themselves in a forest inhabited by fairies who manipulate the humans and are engaged in their own domestic intrigue. A Midsummer Night's Dream is one of Shakespeare's most popular and widely performed plays.
Support
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Our Story
John MacNaughton and Stephen Kiersey have been theater professionals and part of the theater scene in Adrian since the 1970s. Friends since high school, they are now retired and often talked about theatrical opportunities in Adrian. On their daily walks through Trestle Park, they would often say, “Somebody should do Shakespeare there.” Finally they decided that if anyone was going to do it, it was going to have to be them and in early 2024 they formed the Adrian Shakespeare Company with the mission of staging free productions of Shakespeare’s plays in an outdoor setting. They asked City Commissioner Gordon Gauss to join them, and they created the nuts and bolts of the company. Later Doug Miller joined the trio, and their first production A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM was presented in August 2024. Kiersey adapted the play as well as directed it and MacNaughton served as the production manager.