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Condola Rashad & Orlando Bloom To Star In Interracial Broadway Revival Of Romeo & Juliet

Published

April 1, 2013

Condola Rashad just. DOES. NOT. STOP. This can’t be real life. We love Rashad in everything she does but this just blows us away. According to Playbill.com, the Tony Nominee Rashad (Stick Fly) will be joined by Orlando Bloom (Lord of The Rings) in an interracial Broadway revival of Romeo & Juilet. Show is set to start previews Aug. 24th with a Sept. 19th opening date.

The production, which features an interracial couple at the center of Shakespeare’s romantic tragedy, has also been conceived with the Capulets as an all-black family and the Montagues as an all-white household.

Another Tony Award Nominee, Joe Morton (Art, Raisin), who hasn’t been on Broadway since 1999 will return in this production as Lord Capulet.

According to producers, “In this new production, the members of the Montague household will be white, and the blood relatives of the Capulet family will be black. While race defines the family lineages, the original cause of the ‘ancient quarrel’, passed down by successive generations to their young, has been lost to time. Shakespeare’s dramatization of the original poem sets the two young lovers in a context of prejudice, authoritarian parents, and a never ending cycle of ‘revenge.’ Against this background, the strength of their love changes the world.”
Producers have also announced that 100 tickets per performance will be set aside at $20 for purchase by students and educators.

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Written By Drew Shade

Drew Shade is a visionary creative force at the intersection of Black theatre, media, and culture. As the Founder and Creative Director of Broadway Black, Off-Book: The Podcast, and The Antonyo Awards, he champions artistic excellence and amplifies the voices of Black theatre artists with intention, heart, and unapologetic pride. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Playbill, Deadline, The Observer, and Apple TV’s Dear…, and he's collaborated with brands and institutions such as NBC, BET, Audible, Universal Pictures, SheaMoisture, The Public Theater, Signature Theatre, National Black Theatre, and more. He has also served as a cultural consultant and curator for countless Broadway productions for over a decade — establishing himself as a trusted voice and tastemaker in theatre and media. In addition to his work behind the scenes, Shade is a performer and creative artist in his own right, with credits including Classical Theatre of Harlem’s The First Noel at The Apollo, The Preacher’s Wife musical at The Alliance Theatre, and a Sondheim tribute concert at Carnegie Hall led by Tituss Burgess. He’s also lent his voice to campaigns for Google and continues to explore visual storytelling through photography — from red carpets to press coverage. Rooted in joy, justice, and the belief that Black theatre is both legacy and revolution, Shade continues to build platforms and shine light where it’s long been overdue — so Black artists are seen, heard, and celebrated on their own terms. “Have a belief in yourself that is bigger than anyone’s disbelief.” – August Wilson