Special to the Reporter
Mercer Island High School Drama will perform its spring show, “Shakespeare in Love,” from April 27-29 and May 4-6 at the school’s performing arts center.
Penniless and indebted to two demanding producers, struggling young playwright William Shakespeare is tormented by writer’s block until he meets the beautiful Viola de Lesseps, daughter of a wealthy merchant, whose fiery passion for poetry and drama leaves her secretly longing to be an actor. Both are despondent when they learn that Viola’s father has promised her to the stuffy Lord Wessex in order to gain a title for their family. Under the veil of secrecy, Will and Viola’s passionate love affair becomes the basis of the very play he is writing – “Romeo and Juliet.” With opening night — and the wedding day — fast approaching, the plots race toward a parallel conclusion. Will it all work out in the end or are the two star-crossed lovers destined for tragedy?
Our sincere thanks to NW Lifestyle Homes and the Mercer Island Community Fund (MICF) for their generous support of the production. Mercer Island High School Drama has received a grant from MICF.
For tickets, visit https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/72475. We encourage you to purchase tickets in advance. Student tickets are $10, adult tickets are $17, Mercer Island School District staff tickets are $10.
Performances:
April 27, 7 pm: Cast Globe
April 28, 7 pm: Cast Rose (ASL interpreted performance)
April 29, 2 pm: Cast Rose
April 29, 7 pm: Cast Globe
May 4, 7 pm: Cast Rose
May 5, 7 pm: Cast Globe (ASL interpreted performance)
May 6, 2 pm: Cast Globe
May 6, 7 pm: Cast Rose
The casts are:
Will Shakespeare (Cast Rose)
Milo Mechem-Miller
Will Shakespeare (Cast Globe)
Mia Vorkoper
Viola de Lesseps (Cast Rose)
Sadie Jensen
Viola de Lesseps (Cast Globe)
Molly Atkinson
Viola’s Nurse (Cast Rose)
Madi Chew
Viola’s Nurse (Cast Globe)
Brielle Gradek
Wessex (Cast Rose)
Annabel Rimmer
Wessex (Cast Globe)
Kyle Gerstel
Kit Marlowe (both casts)
Christopher Burnside
Henslowe (both casts)
Jonathan Aggar
Fennyman (both casts)
Jada Jorgensen
Lambert/Sir Robert de Lesseps/Burbage’s heavy/Abraham (both casts)
Colin Dowdy
Frees/Wabash/Quickly/Molly/Lady in Waiting (both casts)
Samyutha Chandar
Kate/Lady Waiting/Guard 2/Heavy/Adam/Gregory (both casts)
Ruball Dhillon
Burbage/Guard (both casts)
Chase Urban
Queen Elizabeth/John Webster (both casts)
Abigail Weiss
Ned Alleyn/Mercutio/Fight captain (both casts)
Alec Martin
Valentine/Peter//Tybalt/Guard 1/Heavy (both casts)
Giovee Roque
Ralph/Catling/Juliet’s Nurse/Petruchio (both casts)
Greg Chvany
Proteus/Nol/Benvolio/Sampson (both casts)
Zoya Firasta
Sam/Juliet (both casts)
Katie McGuire
Tilney/Bartender (both casts)
Paige Kirby
Robin/Rower/Lady Capulet (both casts)
Meredith Weaver
Dog (both casts)
Olivia Ramsey
