The Department of Communication and Theatre at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi will present benefit performances of its award-winning production of “Shakespeare’s R&J” at 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 10-11 in the Warren Theatre located in the Center for the Arts.

"Shakespeare's R & J" has won critical and audience acclaim for its brilliantly inventive re-imagining of the world's most famous love story. In this play written by Joe Colarco and directed by A&M-Corpus Christi professor Terry Lewis, four young prep school students, tired of going through the usual drill of conjugating Latin and other tedious school routines, decide to stage their own version of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet." The male actors bring the world’s most famous love story vividly alive by enacting all the roles.

The Theatre Department’s production of “Shakespeare's R&J received the Committee’s Choice Award at the Texas II Festival in Houston and was selected to advance to the American College Theatre Festival’s regional competition in Tulsa, Okla. The winner of that competition will go on to compete at the National Theatre Festival in Washington, D.C.
At the Houston Festival, Professor of Theatre Phil Johnson received an excellence in stage lighting award and Marshall Carby received an excellence in stage management award. Josh Koviak received an award for excellence in light board operation. Students Ryan Couch, Roy Gonzales, and James W. Robinson were nominated for the Irene Ryan Scholarship which provides recognition, honor, and financial assistance to outstanding student performers who wish to pursue further education.

“Shakespeare’s R&J” is recommended for mature audiences. General admission is $10 with all proceeds benefiting the Theatre Department’s scholarship fund. For more information or to make a reservation, call the University Theatre box office at (361) 825-5800.