草莓社区

Editor’s Note 12/20/2021: This production earned multiple awards from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival: Certificates of Merit for co-creators Justin Poole and Jerry Holsopple and fight choreographer Wolf Sherrill, as well as nominations for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship competition for Greta Schrag, Elizabeth Eby, Anna Hoover, and Andrew Stoltzfus. Eby was nominated for the MTI Musical Theater Intensive Audition as well.

Audiences at 草莓社区鈥檚 鈥淯2 Romeo & Juliet鈥� are in for a treat. A theater production that combines the artistry of William Shakespeare and the iconic Irish band U2 is exciting, intense and bold. The band鈥檚 poetic songs easefully carry classic themes of hatred and violence, love and reconciliation. 

Live music performed by a skilled ensemble of actors and local band Prince Bellerose, with original videos, choreography and intense fight scenes, will also make this theater experience memorable. The rock musical, created by faculty members Justin Poole and Jerry Holsopple, not only tells the story of the constant human struggle between light and darkness, but challenges audiences to make a difference in today鈥檚 chaotic world.

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This is a play about the horrible things we do to each other and the need for us to advocate for peace and justice despite seemingly insurmountable odds.

鈥擩ustin Poole, theater program director and professor of theater

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鈥淭he music of U2 works so well in this show because most of their songs mean more than one thing,鈥� said Holsopple, professor of visual and communication arts. 鈥淚t may be about love, but it is also about this other situation. It goes from lament to prophetic anger, from intense personal feelings to grand ideas all while balancing multiple narratives on the flow of text and music.鈥�

鈥淯2 Romeo & Juliet: An Original Rock Musical鈥� runs Oct. 16-30, in the Mainstage Theater, University Commons. Performances are 7 p.m. Oct. 16, 28, 29, and 30, and 2 p.m. Oct 17 and 30.

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A ‘disordered, uncertain world’

Poole conceived the idea for the rock musical shortly after the tragedy of 9/11. His vision was sparked by his college professor鈥檚 creation that paired Shakespeare and The Beatles for a musical of 鈥淭he Two Gentlemen of Verona.鈥�

鈥淚 started envisioning a performance of 鈥楻omeo and Juliet鈥� set to the music and lyrics of my personal favorite band U2,鈥� Poole wrote in the program鈥檚 creator notes. 鈥淚t would be a much darker, morally complicated play that mirrored the new state of the world as I saw it: disordered, uncertain, violent, desperate.鈥�

It took 20 years for anyone to be enthusiastic about his vision. Prepared for a discouraging comment, Poole told his idea to fellow-U2 enthusiast Holsopple, who unexpectedly replied, 鈥淭hat works. You want me to be your music director?鈥�

鈥淚t took collaboration with Jerry to have it happen,鈥� Poole said, noting they use the title of creators to describe their production roles. 鈥淲e aren鈥檛 using any other titles. This is in keeping with the spirit of U2 who shares all their creative rights and credits.鈥�

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 Contacting U2

In January 2020, Holsopple and Poole chose 22 songs they wanted to include and then form the text around the music. They sent their proposal 鈥� including a script draft with music selections identified, as well as information about EMU鈥檚 mission鈥攖o U2鈥檚 publishing company, Universal Music Publishing. Eventually, they were put in contact with a band representative who said, 鈥淭he band is going to have to review your proposal extensively.鈥� With an upcoming tour scheduled, that meant a long turn-around time. However, in less than two weeks, on March 16, a rep emailed  to grant permission to use all 22 songs requested.

Royalties could have been exorbitant, but U2 asked a bare minimum, Poole said, far less than most staged productions. 

Adapting the script and casting

Poole and Holsopple developed the adaptation in summer 2020. They cut archaic scenes, while keeping favorite Shakespearean quotes and the story intact. U2鈥檚 songs chosen include 鈥淟ove and Peace or Else,鈥� 鈥淚 Still Haven鈥檛 Found What I鈥檓 Looking For,鈥� 鈥淕race,鈥� and 鈥淪unday Bloody Sunday.鈥�

The creators brought in local band Prince Bellerose to perform live:  Valentin Prince, Daniel Bellerose and Joseph Harder ’20. In addition to EMU students, they cast community member Stan Swartz 鈥�87 and EMU faculty members James Richardson, assistant professor of music, and Shannon Dove, theater tech director.

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The play revolves around Friar Laurence, portrayed by Dove, Holsopple said. 鈥淭he Friar is like Bono, the storyteller. In a way, it鈥檚 the friar鈥檚 confession in his attempt to change the world and his failure.鈥�

 Dove was a U2 fan as a teen, and as 鈥渙ne of the older members of the cast,鈥� owned a cassette copy of their first album. Aspiring to also sing rock and roll, he said, as a baritone, 鈥渢he holy grail to me at the time was someday being able to hit that note鈥�you know that one note in 鈥榃ith or Without You.鈥欌��

The songs function as soliloquies. Sophomore Greta Schrag said they provide her character, Juliet, an inner monologue for the motivation of her actions. 鈥淪he gets to have a say in what happens to her and gets to share how she feels about it with the audience,鈥� said Schrag, a political science and sociology major.

With women taking on the roles of the Capulet and Montague boys, Poole said, 鈥渢here鈥檙e lots of gender bending, which works well in Shakespeare and with our vision for this show.鈥�

Video projections created by Holsopple and VACA students, Poole said, 鈥渁dd a broader perspective to the piece, connecting it to contemporary events.鈥�

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Making a change

With Christian world views of hope, joy, love and peace embedded in both the script and U2鈥檚 lyrics, the creators and cast made an intention for the audience.

鈥淲e communicate to the audience, and they go out and make positive changes,鈥� Poole said. 鈥淭hey go out and make things better.鈥�

Senior Andrew Stoltzfus, a nursing major with a minor in theater, who will portray Romeo, wants the audience to feel the full tragedy of the play, he said, 鈥渢he horror of what humans do to each other and to feel resolved to join in the 鈥渞ebellion鈥� against violence.鈥�

鈥淚 hope they鈥檒l realize the depth and impact love can have on any circumstance,鈥� said Schrag.  鈥淟ove is power, and it is stronger and more effective than hate.鈥�

Ticket prices for adults are $15; Senior (65+), non-EMU students, $12; EMU faculty/staff, $12; EMU and Bridgewater students, $6. Discounts are available for groups of ten or more. Tickets are available online through EMU鈥檚 Box Office online at or by calling 540-432-4582 between 10:30 a.m. 鈥� 2:30 p.m. weekdays. Because of the intensity of the production, it is not suitable for children under age 14. Face masks are required.

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Thanks to our sponsors

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CAST

Romeo: Andrew Stoltzfus

Juliet: Greta Schrag

Friar Laurence: Shannon Dove

Nurse: Clara Bush

Mercutio: Elizabeth Eby

Benvolio: Anna Hoover

Tybalt: Isaac Longacre

Paris:  Matt Hevener

Lord Montague:  James Richardson

Lady Montague: Ani Beitzel

Montague Boy/Balathasar: Molly Piwonka

Montague Boy/Police: Emma Nord

Montague Boy: Andrew Burks

Lord Capulet: Stan Swartz

Lady Capulet: Evelyn Shenk

Capulet Boy/Servant: MacRae Richardson

Capulet Boy: Sophia Gott

Capulet Boy:  Alexis Lewis

Capulet Boy/Friar John: Adam Hoover

Prince: Joe Sietz

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CREW

Creator: Justin Poole

Creator: Jerry Holsopple

Set Designer: Shannon Dove

Vocal Coach: James Richardson

Choreographer:  Ellie de Waal

Fight Choreographer: Wolf Sherrill

Costume Designer: Rachel Herrick

Lighting Designer: Robert Weaver

Assistant Director: Isaac Longacre

Stage Manager: Jareya Harder

Assistant Stage Manager: Alana Lovick

Theater Promotions: Anna Hoover

House Manager: Mikalya Pettus

Production Assistant: Ezrionna Prioleau

Production Assistant: Hailey Holcomb

Band: Prince Bellerose