Welcome to Shakespeare Youth Festival LA 2026
This season, we took on an exciting challenge. Our company of sixteen actors became a mini-repertory ensemble, tackling two plays – Romeo & Juliet and Cymbeline. Each actor appears in both productions, taking a more substantial role in one and a supporting role in the other. By doing so, we not only gave all of our actors the challenge they crave, but also enhanced the stories we’re telling through their shared experiences across the Dramatis Personae.
The common themes between these two plays are numerous! In both, young lovers are torn apart by disapproving parents and mismatched social status or family feuds. In both, their separation is deepened by false reports (what we now might call “fake news.”) In both, our heroine faces the prospect of being married off to someone she doesn’t love. And, improbably enough, in both, she takes a potion that makes her appear dead for a time! Was that really a thing back in the Renaissance?!?
If you haven’t already, we hope you’ll consider seeing both shows! If this were an English class, we might assign a compare-and-contrast essay—but we’ll let you off the hook.
Our players are taking on the challenge of bringing these stories to life. What can you do to support them? They say that Romeo and Juliet is a comedy … until it’s not, so please feel free to laugh if you’re moved to do so! And, of course, while you’re in the performance space, please silence your phones and give our young artists your full attention.
Enjoy the show!
Dramatis Personae (in order of appearance)
Sampson, a Capulet supporter … Kairo Pontell
Gregory, his sidekick … Veronica Sefrioui
Abraham, a Montague supporter … Talula Worth
Benvolio, friend of Romeo … Katya Pontell
Tybalt, nephew of Lady Capulet … Patrick Magaña
Lord Capulet, Juliet’s father … Hannah Gumpert
Lady Capulet, Juliet’s mother … Zoe O’Brien
Montague, Romeo’s father … Ondine Taylor
Lady Montague, Romeo’s mother … Pia Inchaurregui
Escalus, ruler of Verona … Magnolia Hart Wallace
Romeo, a Montague … David Landaverde-Chavez
Paris, suitor of Juliet … Alexander Gumpert
Juliet, a Capulet … Arrow Hudson
Nurse, Juliet’s confidante … Ondine Taylor
Peter, a Capulet servant … Atlas Taylor
Servingmen … Magnolia Hart Wallace & Hirshl Hickman
Mercutio, friend to Romeo … Dash Kirkley
Friar Laurence, a priest … Hirshl Hickman
Apothecary, a druggist … Magnolia Hart Wallace
Friar John, another priest … Atlas Taylor
Synopsis
Our story opens with the Chorus introducing the feuding Capulet and Montague families of Verona, locked in bitter political conflict. A street brawl between their supporters ends when Escalus intervenes and warns that further violence will lead to banishment. Soon after, Lord Capulet plans a feast to introduce his daughter, Juliet, to Paris, a young nobleman who wishes to marry her. Romeo, a Montague, attends the feast in disguise with his friends Benvolio and Mercutio, hoping to see his former love, Rosaline. Instead, he meets Juliet, and the two fall in love, though they belong to rival families. Juliet’s fiery cousin Tybalt recognizes them, forcing the Montague boys to flee.
That night, Romeo secretly returns to the Capulet garden, where he and Juliet confess their love and vow to marry. With the help of Friar Laurence and Juliet’s Nurse, they secretly wed the next day in the Friar’s cell. Soon after, Tybalt challenges Romeo for intruding at the feast. Romeo refuses to fight, but Mercutio takes up the duel and is fatally wounded. Enraged, Romeo kills Tybalt and is banished.
Heartbroken, Juliet learns of Tybalt’s death and Romeo’s exile, but love overcomes her grief. The Nurse arranges for Romeo to spend one last night with her before he departs for Mantua. Meanwhile, Lord Capulet, believing Juliet still mourns Tybalt, hastens her marriage to Paris. Desperate, Juliet turns to Friar Laurence, who gives her a potion that makes her appear dead for 42 hours. The Friar plans to inform Romeo so he can rescue her when she wakes.
The message never reaches Romeo due to a quarantine. Hearing only that Juliet is dead, Romeo buys poison in Mantua and returns to Verona. At the Capulet tomb, he kills mourning Paris, drinks the poison, and dies beside Juliet. When she awakens and finds him dead, she stabs herself. The grieving families arrive with Escalus and the Friar, who reveals the truth. Capulet and Montague finally reconcile, and vow to honor their children with a memorial.
Our Production Team
Director … Julia Walker Wyson
Assistant Directors
Alessandra Mañon
Kila Packett
Anja Racić
Esdras Touissaint
Fight Choreography … Kila Packett & Esdras Toussaint
Dramaturg … Margot Waldman
Artistic Associate … Julia Eschenasy
Technical Director … Pastiche Queen
Special Thanks to
Our incredible parents for all of their support during this odyssey – driving, donating meals and snacks, running lines, and so much more.
Julie Gumpert for coordinating cast meals during our busy Tech schedule.
Zeke and the staff of the Hudson Theatres – we feel so welcome in this space, and we deeply appreciate all your generous support!
Our seniors, Talula Worth, Hirshl Hickman, and Magnolia Hart Wallace! Talula and Hirshl, we thank you for sharing your gifts with us over the years, and Magnolia, we are delighted that you joined our troupe this year! We wish you all the very best in your next act!