Lake Michigan College Mendel Center

PRESENTED BY THE LAKE MICHIGAN COLLEGE THEATER PROGRAM

Shakespeare's most famous love story collides with a fractured America in this bold reimagining of Romeo & Juliet that takes place in the not-too-distant future after a second civil war has just ended in an uneasy truce. 

Verona, New Jersey, is now a border town split by a demilitarized zone, with the fortified suburban estates of the Capulets on one side and the industrial strongholds of the Montagues on the other. Here, the ancient grudge is no longer a family feud but a divide of class and ideology. At the center of it all are two young people who dare to love across those lines. Staged with a raw, theatrical edge and a pulse-pounding soundtrack of indie, punk, and hip-hop, this gritty production asks what happens when hate becomes a way of life, and what it ultimately costs us.

While geared for all audiences, parental guidance is suggested due to the fight scenes and romantic moments between Romeo and Juliet. This production also includes strobe and flashing light effects.

This production of Romeo & Juliet has been edited and adapted by David Hundsness (2008), with further adaptation by director and Lake Michigan College Theater faculty member Shalico Sain (2026).