The Acting Company

DOUBLE TAKE! 2 Shows in 2 Nights

Bringing laughter, tears and adventure, a wildly talented cast of young professional actors presents fresh productions of well-known favorites at the Lakewood Cultural Center this February. Purchase tickets early for the best availability.

The Acting Company is the only professional theater principally dedicated to the development of young classical actors. A recent winner of the Shakespeare in American Communities grant, the Tony-awardwinning company has been seen nationally and internationally. The current North American tour began in Queens, New York, and will reach more than 30 regional theaters as it makes its way west toward Lakewood in February 2023. Don’t miss these wonderful productions.

THE THREE MUSKETEERS Wednesday, February 22 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. ROMEO AND JULIET Thursday, February 23 7:30 p.m.

Experience back-to-back performances of “The Three Musketeers” and “Romeo and Juliet” performed by a versatile, multicultural team of actors playing multiple roles in both shows.

Kirsten Child’s new adaptation of “The Three Musketeers” draws inspiration from the father of the writer Alexandre Dumas, French General Alex Dumas, the highest-ranking person of color in any Western military until modern times. Director Kent Gash says, “It’s a raucous, dynamic, visceral, exciting production. Boys sort of growing up into being men and how we need to take responsibility for each other…and then it is just a great adventure story. I’m excited that we’re adding the perspective of Dumas, the author, who was of Haitian descent, to bring that additional layer of dynamic and cultural integrity into the story. I think people don’t always realize that ‘The Three Musketeers’ springs from a Black imagination.” (Raven Brunner, “Playbill,” October 12, 2022)

Starring the same cast, William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” uses gorgeous costumes and music, enchanting parties, moonlit nights, dank graveyards, and bloodsoaked streets to make this story as relevant to modern society as it was to audiences four centuries ago. Shakespeare offers some of the most glorious poetry ever written, spoken by complex and memorable characters, and establishes the standard of all love stories written since. The ancient grudge between two families leads the star-crossed lovers to their passionate but tragic end.