Shakespeare’s R&J, adapted from Joe Calarco’s reimagining of Romeo and Juliet, follows four students in a rigid and repressive school who secretly rehearse Shakespeare’s text. As they embody the characters, they confront questions of identity, repression, belonging, and self-expression. This production reinterprets the work through a contemporary cross-cultural lens shaped by the lived experiences of immigrant and international artists, exploring the emotional tension between societal expectation and personal truth. These themes are especially resonant today, as many individuals navigate questions of identity, cultural belonging, and visibility.

J. Cody Spellman (he/him) is a director for theatre and film whose work thrives in the collision of tragedy, comedy, and horror, creating bold, genre-bending stories that immerse audiences in worlds of deep catharsis and surprise. A Dayton, Ohio native, Cody studied directing at Columbia College Chicago and worked in theatre, film, and special events productions until 2020 when he moved to Pittsburgh, PA where he now calls home. He previously served as the Artistic Director of Throughline Theatre Co. and Director of Production at Quantum Theatre, was an SDC Observership Class recipient (2019–2021), Artistic Assistant at Victory Gardens Theatre (2012-2013), and is currently pursuing an MFA as a John Wells Directing Fellow at Carnegie Mellon University.