Romeo and Winifred

“Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” 

Winifred’s utterance of these famous words from the roof of her family’s Discount Mart is met with an unexpected reply:

“He’s over here!”

So goes the balcony scene in Romeo and Winifred, a ridiculously funny parody of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. In this hilarious show, the world of Shakespeare is turned upside down as feuding department store employees trade insults in iambic pentameter, hotdogs are roasted on plastic fencing foils, and an overeager nurse stands ready to wrap your head in bandages if you get a paper cut.

I have had an absolute blast working with a fantastic group of teenagers to bring all this fun to life on the Giving Tree Theater stage. After weeks of memorizing, painting, costume hunting, and searching for the maximum funny, we are set to open the show tonight. (Yes, tonight!) I could not be prouder of these kids and all that we have accomplished together.

But if you had told me a few years ago that I would voluntarily spend my evenings with a large group of teenagers and like it (most of the time anyway), I would have probably laughed in your face. I didn’t do teenagers. Youth work was for people far more patient, way cooler, and possibly a bit crazy.

All of that changed when I blinked and my toddler was suddenly taller than me. As our family has slipped into this new season (we now have two teens in the house!), I have discovered that the teen years, while yes, full of unique challenges, is also an exciting time of growth and change. It is a time to both lean into our kids and offer support and encouragement while also stepping back and giving them room to stretch their wings. They need opportunities to build real relationships (not just on screens), grow in confidence, and create beautiful things, so that when the time comes, they are truly ready to fly.

Throughout our rehearsal process, it has been a joy to watch this group of middle and high school students develop new friendships, work as a team, and bravely step onto the stage--many for the very first time. And together we have created something beautiful. It is a hilarious kind of beauty, but beautiful nonetheless.

I enjoy every part of the directing process (except the shushing of overly-excited teenagers who have super important things that absolutely have to be said, right now, to their fellow cast members-turned-best-friends), but I am especially looking forward to tonight (Opening Night!) when I will settle into a cozy seat, laugh out loud with the audience, and watch my twenty favorite teenagers shine like the stars they are.

Those of you in the Cedar Rapids area are of course invited to join us for the wild romp that is Romeo and Winifred. You don’t want to miss this opportunity to brush off your Shakespeare. Come and see how much of Romeo and Juliet you remember. Challenge yourself to catch the passing references to other plays by The Bard. But even if those should fly by you, I can guarantee that you will at least have a good laugh (unless you are a really hard nut to crack), and that you will leave the theater with a smile on your face and phrases like “me thinks,” “how now,” or possibly the occasional “forsooth” on your lips.

So what say you? Shall we hie thee to the theater? Me thinks it will be a jolly good show.

(Tickets available at www.givingtreetheater.com)