Last week, in one of the most striking locations in Texas, the Central Texas Theatre Academy in partnership with the Wimberley Parks and Recreation Department performed “Romeo and Juliet” at Blue Hole Regional Park. The performance marked the fourth annual Shakespeare on the River collaboration between the theatre academy and the city’s parks and recreation department.
Twenty-five students, between the ages of 1218, designed, built, rehearsed and performed Shakespeare’s classic, “Romeo and Juliet.”
Students spent mornings in rehearsals with director Bridget Gates, analyzing the text and staging scenes. In the afternoon, the young actors worked on sets and costumes. Aleah Petmecky and Hannah Mobarak led the costume students, while Troy Petmecky and Carter Holland led the set and tech crews.
OLIVER GATEWOOD, LEFT, PLAYS ROMEO TO MAEVE GALLOWAY’S JULIET IN THE SHAKESPEARE ON THE RIVER PRODUCTION OF ROMEO AND JULIET. SUBMITTED PHOTOS
During the five-week program, Kevin Gates, Theatre History professor and Bill Perkins, retired Shakespeare professor turned actor, coached actors about characterization while scenes were being staged.
To learn more about the Central Texas Theatre Academy, visit centextheatre. org and their facebook page for more information about the additional programs they offer. This year they will make available after-school drama classes, a performing arts micro-school, a murder- mystery dinner theatre and princess and superhero parties. The academy recently produced Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” musical with the City of Buda in the city’s outdoor amphitheater.
CREATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WIMBERLEY PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, STUDENTS BUILT SETS AND LEARNED THE TECHNICAL SKILLS REQUIRED TO PERFORM THE CLASSIC PLAY. SUBMITTED PHOTO
