SPF 13: The Romeo and Juliet Senior Citizens Project–A Comedy
Lucas, a recent MFA graduate of Yale (and barely 30 years old), creates and directs his adaptation of Romeo & Juliet for a local Seniors Retirement Facility. During rehearsal and opening night, complications arise from conflicts and a budding romance between Rich and Rose, the two star-crossed lovers/residents at the facility. As Lucas juggles the play and real-life drama, his creative vision is truly tested by one regal resident, 90 year old Nina Sallinen, who interjects with her unsolicited advice and why the tragedy should have a happy ending.
Development
Reading for NOHO Arts Day, April 2022; and a private workshop.
Story by Jami Brandli, Nina Sallinen, and Ann Hearn Tobolowsky
(and William Shakespeare, too)
Jami is currently a member of Center Theatre Group’s 2022 L.A. Writers Workshop led by Luis Alfaro where she is developing a play about female magicians titled The Magician’s Sister. Her plays include M-Theory: a play told in 11 dimensions, Technicolor Life, The Romeo and Juliet Senior Citizens Project—A Comedy, O: A Rhapsody in Divorce, and BLISS (or Emily Post is Dead!)—named on The Kilroys List and a LA Times Critics’ Choice. Her work has been produced/developed at New Dramatists, New York Theatre Workshop, Kitchen Dog Theater, The Women’s Voices Theater Festival, Moving Arts, among other venues. Additional selected awards: 2019 Humanitas Prize PLAY LA winner, John Gassner Memorial Playwriting Award, Ashland New Plays Festival, Aurora Theatre Company’s GAP Prize. Jami teaches dramatic writing at Lesley University’s low-residency MFA program and is represented by the Michael Moore Agency. For more info, visit www.jamibrandli.com and her NPX profile.
Reykjavík by Steve Yockey, a filmed live play production for The Road Theatre. Also at The Road, Jami Brandli’s Through the Eye of a Needle, an Off Road production of Anatomy of a Hug, multiple readings for The Road’s Word series and the Summer Playwrights Festival readings including M-Theory, The Caregiver’s Guide, A Shonda, Unbound, The Specials, The Gift and The Night We Bombed Lincoln Towing. Productions at Theatre 40: Silent Sky, Good People, As Good As Gold, Bus Stop, Holy Days, Driving Miss Daisy, Another Part of the Forest. Directing credits elsewhere include world premiers of The Favorite by Joe Correll at Avery Schreiber Playhouse, and Forever Bound by Steve Apostolina at Atwater Theatre.
“The Romeo and Juliet Senior Citizens Project–A Comedy”
Marybeth – Gwen Van Dam*
Dorothy – Patricia Herd*
John – Bruce Katzman*
Lucas – Dor Gvirtsman*
Rich / Romeo – Stephen Tobolowsky
Nina Sallinen – Nina Sallinen*
Loretta – Amy Tolsky*
Rose / Juliet – Inger Tudor*
Stage Directions – Meeghan Holaway*
*Road Company Member