The Black Box Theatre at McHenry County College (MCC) is proud to announce its new and exciting spring production, Juliet and Romeo. This adaptation of William Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy flips the switch on the gender power structure of the play.

Adapted by Ted Hazelgrove and Jay Geller, Juliet and Romeo tells the story of Juliet Montague and her failed and tragic romance with Romeo Capulet. An age-old vendetta between two powerful families led by Lady Montague and Lady Capulet erupts into bloodshed. A group of masked Montagues risk further conflict by gatecrashing a Capulet party. A young lovesick Juliet Montague falls instantly in love with Romeo Capulet, who is due to marry his mother’s choice, the Countess Paris. With the help of Romeo’s nurse, the women arrange for the couple to marry the next day, but Juliet’s attempt to halt a street fight leads to the death of Juliet’s friend Mercutia and Romeo’s own cousin, Tybalt, for which Juliet is banished. In a desperate attempt to be reunited with Juliet, Romeo follows the Friar’s plot and fakes his own death. The message fails to reach Juliet, and believing Romeo dead, she takes her life in his tomb. Romeo wakes to find Juliet’s corpse beside him and kills himself. The grieving family agree to end their feud.

Juliet and Romeo opens March 3 and runs March 4, 10, 11, 17, and 18 at 7 p.m. and March 5, 12, and 19 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 for students, MCC employees, seniors, veterans, and MCC alumni, and $15 for the general public.