By Mark Ambrogi
Carmel High School senior Aaron Guevara knew the role he wanted when auditions started.
“‘Romeo and Juliet’ is one of the greatest plays of all time,” Guevara said. “Since this was my last performance I really wanted to play the lead one so I’m happy it turned out that way.”
Sophomore Anja Reese will play opposite Guevara when Carmel High School presents “Romeo and Juliet” Feb. 4-6 in the auditorium.
Guevara said this is his first lead role since playing the lead role in “Peter Pan” as a Creekside Middle School eighth grader.
“I always like new challenges especially when it comes to theater and this is an entirely new thing,” Guevara said of his first Shakespeare play.
Reese said she is embracing her first experience with Shakespeare.
“I’m really enjoying getting to know the language and learning how to bring it to life,” Reese said.
Reese is a member of the Accents, CHS’s all female choir.
“The reason I started to do drama is I was so interested in music and the two go hand-in-hand,” Reese said.
Director Maggie Cassidy said it is the first time she has directed Shakespeare at CHS.
“We’re setting it in a modern time period to make it more accessible for the teenagers who are going to come see it,” Cassidy said. “It throws people off when you have those big poofy dresses from the Elizabethan time period. It is so stuffy that it seems boring. It’s Shakespeare words with a modern twist.”
The play will be a 90-minute version adapted by Butler University professor Diane Timmerman.
The performances will be at 7 p.m. on Feb. 4, 5 and 6 with a 2 p.m. on Feb. 6. Tickets are $10. To purchase tickets, visit ticketracker.com.
