After last year's critically acclaimed inaugural production of Twelfth Night, Shakespeare in Clark Park returns with Romeo and Juliet, performed for free on August 1-5 at 7:00 pm in West Philadelphia's Clark Park. The production is directed by Tom Reing and features Marla Burkholder as Juliet, Conrad Ricamora as Romeo, and Bradley K. Wrenn as Mercutio.

Now in its second year, Shakespeare in Clark Park brings free productions of Shakespeare's plays to one of Philadelphia's most beautiful parks, inviting the University City community and the greater Philadelphia community to spend a summer evening outside with the Bard. Shakespeare in Clark Park's 2006 production of Twelfth Night drew record crowds to Clark Park. Toby Zinman of The Philadelphia Inquirer said, "Bring a blanket and picnic dinner, bring the kids, the dogs, the bicycle, bug spray, a beach chair, whatever - but don't miss this one."

In preparing for their second production, Shakespeare in Clark Park has experienced an outpouring of community support. "Local organizations like the Friends of Clark Park have been incredibly supportive," says Maria Möller, Co-Artistic Director. "So have people in the neighborhoods around the park. We were there one day and a man came up to us and volunteered his backyard for storage space. Local merchants give us an enthusiastic response when we ask if we can put up posters in their windows. It's been very gratifying."

In keeping with the company's mission to produce theatre that is integrated into the environment of the park, director Tom Reing has created a world for Romeo and Juliet that resonates with both the park and the urban landscape that surrounds it. Set designer Jacob Walton's Verona is a city on edge, stripped of nature amidst the lush greenness of Clark Park; the sound design by Christopher Colucci features sounds that are part and parcel of Clark Park, like the African drumming circle that plays there every Sunday.

Though for many people Romeo and Juliet is synonymous with the passion of young love, community is the focus of this production. "Romeo and Juliet is not just a play about a pair of star-cross'd lovers," says Reing. "It is also about the senseless conflict that almost destroys a city - until conflict is transformed by love. That divided community is very much at the heart of our production."

Shakespeare in Clark Park began when Co-Artistic Directors Marla Burkholder and Maria Möller invited colleagues Whitney Estrin (Managing Director) and Tom Reing (Resident Director) to join them in creating free, outdoor summer Shakespeare in Philadelphia. Clark Park, a vibrant green space that is the cornerstone of a diverse community, seemed the perfect location for inventive approaches to Shakespeare's plays. While engaging the community and expanding Philadelphia's summertime cultural scene, Shakespeare in Clark Park re-imagines the world of the park through the works of Shakespeare.

The University City District is the Production Sponsor of Romeo and Juliet. Additional sponsorship support for this production has been generously provided by Flexcar.