TURNER — Leavitt Area High School’s spring play this year is Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” but with a new twist. Director Kerri Becker has chosen Prohibition-era Chicago as the backdrop for her third Shakespeare production at Leavitt.

“I knew I did not want to set the play in its traditional setting,” Becker said, “because I didn’t think the students would be able to relate to the characters and find truth in their motives. I also needed a time period that was famous for its gang culture in order to believe two feuding families would be so disruptive to the peace. Since the 1920s in Chicago had gang culture, I thought it would be perfect to drop these characters in Chicago at the height of prohibition, torn between love and illegal family businesses. I was pleasantly surprised to find how easy the transition was.”

Major roles have been cast as follows Olivia Dam as Juliet, Jacob Lamson as Romeo, Brittney Tiner as Friar, Brandon Clark as Mercutio, Cheyanne Dulac as Benvolio, Kallah Turner as Lady Capulet, Matt Child as Capulet, and Danielle Small as Nurse.

“Romeo and Juliet” will be presented at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 9, and Friday, May 10, in the Leavitt auditorium. Tickets will be available at the door.

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