Romeo & Juliet: A Queer Abridged Retelling
New York City, New York | Theatre
LGBTQ, Experimental
When Romeo finally admits to Benvolio that she's in love with a woman, her friends try their best to ease her suffering with a forbidden romp at the Capulet's mansion, but when she finds Juliet, the love and suffering that awaits them will change their world forever.
Romeo & Juliet: A Queer Abridged Retelling
New York City, New York | Theatre
LGBTQ, Experimental
1 Campaigns | New York, United States
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This campaign raised $5,025 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
78 supporters | followers
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When Romeo finally admits to Benvolio that she's in love with a woman, her friends try their best to ease her suffering with a forbidden romp at the Capulet's mansion, but when she finds Juliet, the love and suffering that awaits them will change their world forever.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
What is The Fortnight Project?
It all started back in 2020... The world was falling apart, and many of my colleagues (myself included) were second guessing our life choices, especially deciding to become actors! The Fortnight Project started as an email list of twenty-three cis/trans/queer WOMEN coming together on Zoom once every two weeks to share their work with one another to remember the joy and inspiration acting brings us! Old friendships were rekindled, new ones were forged, and I realized how much I loved holding space for artists to thrive in!
Out of these meetings, new ideas and projects outside of acting began to surface. Emily Bollman and I connected in our love for Shakespeare, and after a summer at Edinburgh's Fringe Festival and studying at the British Academy for Dramatic Arts, we came back to the States ready to dive head-first into independently producing a show that would blend Shakespeare and experimental theater!
It's Finally Happening!!!
The Fortnight Project's Romeo & Juliet: A Queer Abridged Retelling is a new experimental adaptation going live for the public of New York City this Spring!
Our cast has already begun rehearsing for an open tech run (we love allowing folks a peek into our process) on May 4th and three outdoor performances happening May 5th, 6th, & 7th at 5pm EST!
Open tech, May 4th and our opening performance, May 5th will be at Summit Rock in Central Park, and May 6th & 7th we will be at the Korean War Veterans Plaza in Brooklyn (take A/C to High St.). Bring water and towels to sit on!
We will not be charging for tickets. Allowance to the event will be by reservation or as space allows, which means our entire production will be funded by our Seed&Spark campaign!
The cast includes Emily Bollman, Alex Keane, Cody Buege, Cormac Bohan, Alvin Christmas, Freddy Vaccaro, Mallory Astrow, Logan Shiller, Olivia Dei Dolori, Sondrine Bontemps, John Richard Mateyko, and Ben Feldman.
Did Somebody Say QUEER?
This production is a true come one, come all chance to experience Romeo and Juliet played with two female leads! Rewritten for a lesbian relationship, Friar Lawrence will lead us through this tragic love story as he remembers it... in the small southern County of Nowhere in Particular.
This adaptation is a bare-bones Brechtian presentation of Romeo & Juliet. The actors will stay with the audience the entire show, watching with them and jumping in when it's their time to play. Our script changes are inspired by our actors and bend elements of the story in a way that sheds light on the kind of pressurized homophobia that can feel inescapable in small American towns.
Romeo, a heartbroken seventeen-year-old grappling with her sexuality, sticks out like a sore thumb with her goth/punk wardrobe and demented alter-ego (the sock puppet, Lil' Romeo). Juliet, the family goofball, dodges her parents' set ups at every turn, but is quickly realizing she can't hide behind her childish games forever. Together, they will fight with everything they have for the right to be themselves and to be together.
Every day people are still fighting for their right to love and to exist, and for many, that fight starts in a home town that has told them exactly who they are and aren't allowed to be. The Capulet's may have a man in drag (Nurse) helping them raise their daughter, but that doesn't mean anyone is allowed to acknowledge her queer identity. Everyone knows that Friar Lawrence is gay, but as long as he stays put within the Church, no one will make a fuss about it.
Queerness is carried in a different way by these two older characters that mentor our leading couple throughout the play. They are of a generation less forgiving than the time Juliet and Ro are growing up in. They want more for them, and try to help them along, but the fear and hate that runs through their small town will stop them in their tracks and drive these two young lovers to despair.
Our adaptation has also expanded the characters of Tybalt, Lord Capulet, and even the dashing (but perhaps not the brightest) County Paris! With a cast of twelve dedicated ensemble members, we will use dance, puppetry, devised movement, and textual cuts and additions to make this timeless story come to life like never before!
Why This Matters to Us.
The Fortnight Project is made up of actors turned producers who recognize the need for loving leadership in the theater industry. Actors inspire us all with their courage and captivating talents, and we want to be part of creating spaces where they can feel valued and empowered in the work they do. After an industry-wide and world-wide shut down, we've been reminded to appreciate the joy of coming together to rehearse, perform, and experience live theater, but as things pick up in the theater world, systematic changes still aren't happening fast enough. As the world continues to heal, we all have a chance to rethink how we do things, and The Fortnight Project is ready to start uplifting artists on their own terms.
We will keep working on this script and gaining traction for this adaptation well after this initial production has taken flight, but your contributions will help us make the most of the time we have now with such a brilliant cast!
These actors are true professionals who have come from all across the U.S. to act in plays, write, produce films, perform in drag, and chase dreams of all kinds in New York City. They have thrown their hearts into this project with us, and we hope you will too! It's a passion project for the ages, one we believe will move audiences of all walks of life.
Keeping our team and audiences safe and healthy is a top priority for us! Our actors are vaccinated, and our production team is taking care to keep one another protected during our process. Outdoor rehearsals and performances will mitigate exposure to COVID, and we will be following all mandates for COVID safety along the way.
Any funds collected beyond our goal will go to our cast and to The Fortnight Project to continue producing!
Ready to Join Us?
❤️ Pledge a contribution to our campaign!
❤️ Follow this page and our Instagram: @thefortnightproject
❤️ Like and share our content!
❤️ Spread the word! Let people know you believe in us!
❤️ Reach out to us via IG or email: [email protected] to RSVP your spot at one of our shows!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast Stipends
Costs $2,400
Our team of twelve professional actors will receive a $200 stipend for their work!
Production Crew Stipends
Costs $800
Our production crew will get a $200 stipend for their work!
Venue and Rehearsal Space
Costs $1,250
This will pay for rehearsal space at The Tank NYC and events permits for Central Park.
Costumes/Props/Other Expenses
Costs $300
We'll use this money to buy a few props and costumes and to cover any unexpected expenses.
Marketing/Printing Needs
Costs $250
This will cover our printing needs for flyers, posters, and other paperwork.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Amber Gatlin began The Fortnight Project in 2020 to gather female/femme performing artists to share their work and celebrate one another in a safe space. The goal of the group was to find joy in performing again in the midst and aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Out of that space, many ideas for new works were curated and developed, including a reinvisioned Romeo and Juliet!
With Dionna Vereen's expertise in crafting language, our team is collaborating with her to keep our script adjustments within the world of Shakespeare's heightened text, except when a deviation is dramaturgically appropriate. In keeping the poetry sound among many cuts and edits, we'll keep all the juicy fun of Shakespearean text for our actors while maintaining a pace that will keep an audience of all ages hooked till the end! dionnavpoetry.com
Our collective remains female-led, but we've since included our he/him friends in the process, including the brilliant Rupert Krüger, whose work explores blending the crafts of physical theater and martial arts. Rupert is not only leading the production's fight scenes, but will lead several moments of devised movement in the show. rupert-krüger.com
Our team is brought together by our love of Shakespeare and collaboration! Originally from Louisiana, Colorado, Florida, New Jersey, and Syracuse, NY, our time studying acting at Syracuse University brought us together. We have since independently gone on to produce original one-person shows, films, podcasts, blogs, and more! This is the first time we are pulling our efforts together in a new workshop production, but we are certain it won't be the last!
After seeing incredible new work last year at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Emily Bollman and Amber Gatlin came back home with a newfound determination to bridge the worlds of Shakespeare and experimental theater. Emily's passion for puppetry has given new life to this play and has sparked a chain of reactions that may make the Bard roll in his grave, but will have audiences roiling with anticipation as they wonder, what could happen next??
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
What is The Fortnight Project?
It all started back in 2020... The world was falling apart, and many of my colleagues (myself included) were second guessing our life choices, especially deciding to become actors! The Fortnight Project started as an email list of twenty-three cis/trans/queer WOMEN coming together on Zoom once every two weeks to share their work with one another to remember the joy and inspiration acting brings us! Old friendships were rekindled, new ones were forged, and I realized how much I loved holding space for artists to thrive in!
Out of these meetings, new ideas and projects outside of acting began to surface. Emily Bollman and I connected in our love for Shakespeare, and after a summer at Edinburgh's Fringe Festival and studying at the British Academy for Dramatic Arts, we came back to the States ready to dive head-first into independently producing a show that would blend Shakespeare and experimental theater!
It's Finally Happening!!!
The Fortnight Project's Romeo & Juliet: A Queer Abridged Retelling is a new experimental adaptation going live for the public of New York City this Spring!
Our cast has already begun rehearsing for an open tech run (we love allowing folks a peek into our process) on May 4th and three outdoor performances happening May 5th, 6th, & 7th at 5pm EST!
Open tech, May 4th and our opening performance, May 5th will be at Summit Rock in Central Park, and May 6th & 7th we will be at the Korean War Veterans Plaza in Brooklyn (take A/C to High St.). Bring water and towels to sit on!
We will not be charging for tickets. Allowance to the event will be by reservation or as space allows, which means our entire production will be funded by our Seed&Spark campaign!
The cast includes Emily Bollman, Alex Keane, Cody Buege, Cormac Bohan, Alvin Christmas, Freddy Vaccaro, Mallory Astrow, Logan Shiller, Olivia Dei Dolori, Sondrine Bontemps, John Richard Mateyko, and Ben Feldman.
Did Somebody Say QUEER?
This production is a true come one, come all chance to experience Romeo and Juliet played with two female leads! Rewritten for a lesbian relationship, Friar Lawrence will lead us through this tragic love story as he remembers it... in the small southern County of Nowhere in Particular.
This adaptation is a bare-bones Brechtian presentation of Romeo & Juliet. The actors will stay with the audience the entire show, watching with them and jumping in when it's their time to play. Our script changes are inspired by our actors and bend elements of the story in a way that sheds light on the kind of pressurized homophobia that can feel inescapable in small American towns.
Romeo, a heartbroken seventeen-year-old grappling with her sexuality, sticks out like a sore thumb with her goth/punk wardrobe and demented alter-ego (the sock puppet, Lil' Romeo). Juliet, the family goofball, dodges her parents' set ups at every turn, but is quickly realizing she can't hide behind her childish games forever. Together, they will fight with everything they have for the right to be themselves and to be together.
Every day people are still fighting for their right to love and to exist, and for many, that fight starts in a home town that has told them exactly who they are and aren't allowed to be. The Capulet's may have a man in drag (Nurse) helping them raise their daughter, but that doesn't mean anyone is allowed to acknowledge her queer identity. Everyone knows that Friar Lawrence is gay, but as long as he stays put within the Church, no one will make a fuss about it.
Queerness is carried in a different way by these two older characters that mentor our leading couple throughout the play. They are of a generation less forgiving than the time Juliet and Ro are growing up in. They want more for them, and try to help them along, but the fear and hate that runs through their small town will stop them in their tracks and drive these two young lovers to despair.
Our adaptation has also expanded the characters of Tybalt, Lord Capulet, and even the dashing (but perhaps not the brightest) County Paris! With a cast of twelve dedicated ensemble members, we will use dance, puppetry, devised movement, and textual cuts and additions to make this timeless story come to life like never before!
Why This Matters to Us.
The Fortnight Project is made up of actors turned producers who recognize the need for loving leadership in the theater industry. Actors inspire us all with their courage and captivating talents, and we want to be part of creating spaces where they can feel valued and empowered in the work they do. After an industry-wide and world-wide shut down, we've been reminded to appreciate the joy of coming together to rehearse, perform, and experience live theater, but as things pick up in the theater world, systematic changes still aren't happening fast enough. As the world continues to heal, we all have a chance to rethink how we do things, and The Fortnight Project is ready to start uplifting artists on their own terms.
We will keep working on this script and gaining traction for this adaptation well after this initial production has taken flight, but your contributions will help us make the most of the time we have now with such a brilliant cast!
These actors are true professionals who have come from all across the U.S. to act in plays, write, produce films, perform in drag, and chase dreams of all kinds in New York City. They have thrown their hearts into this project with us, and we hope you will too! It's a passion project for the ages, one we believe will move audiences of all walks of life.
Keeping our team and audiences safe and healthy is a top priority for us! Our actors are vaccinated, and our production team is taking care to keep one another protected during our process. Outdoor rehearsals and performances will mitigate exposure to COVID, and we will be following all mandates for COVID safety along the way.
Any funds collected beyond our goal will go to our cast and to The Fortnight Project to continue producing!
Ready to Join Us?
❤️ Pledge a contribution to our campaign!
❤️ Follow this page and our Instagram: @thefortnightproject
❤️ Like and share our content!
❤️ Spread the word! Let people know you believe in us!
❤️ Reach out to us via IG or email: [email protected] to RSVP your spot at one of our shows!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast Stipends
Costs $2,400
Our team of twelve professional actors will receive a $200 stipend for their work!
Production Crew Stipends
Costs $800
Our production crew will get a $200 stipend for their work!
Venue and Rehearsal Space
Costs $1,250
This will pay for rehearsal space at The Tank NYC and events permits for Central Park.
Costumes/Props/Other Expenses
Costs $300
We'll use this money to buy a few props and costumes and to cover any unexpected expenses.
Marketing/Printing Needs
Costs $250
This will cover our printing needs for flyers, posters, and other paperwork.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Amber Gatlin began The Fortnight Project in 2020 to gather female/femme performing artists to share their work and celebrate one another in a safe space. The goal of the group was to find joy in performing again in the midst and aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Out of that space, many ideas for new works were curated and developed, including a reinvisioned Romeo and Juliet!
With Dionna Vereen's expertise in crafting language, our team is collaborating with her to keep our script adjustments within the world of Shakespeare's heightened text, except when a deviation is dramaturgically appropriate. In keeping the poetry sound among many cuts and edits, we'll keep all the juicy fun of Shakespearean text for our actors while maintaining a pace that will keep an audience of all ages hooked till the end! dionnavpoetry.com
Our collective remains female-led, but we've since included our he/him friends in the process, including the brilliant Rupert Krüger, whose work explores blending the crafts of physical theater and martial arts. Rupert is not only leading the production's fight scenes, but will lead several moments of devised movement in the show. rupert-krüger.com
Our team is brought together by our love of Shakespeare and collaboration! Originally from Louisiana, Colorado, Florida, New Jersey, and Syracuse, NY, our time studying acting at Syracuse University brought us together. We have since independently gone on to produce original one-person shows, films, podcasts, blogs, and more! This is the first time we are pulling our efforts together in a new workshop production, but we are certain it won't be the last!
After seeing incredible new work last year at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Emily Bollman and Amber Gatlin came back home with a newfound determination to bridge the worlds of Shakespeare and experimental theater. Emily's passion for puppetry has given new life to this play and has sparked a chain of reactions that may make the Bard roll in his grave, but will have audiences roiling with anticipation as they wonder, what could happen next??