Step Into Verona in the Early 2000s
Before you hear what audiences are raving about, step inside the world of Romeo & Juliet at the Blackfriars Playhouse. Our Fall 2025 production bursts with music, comedy, and passion—captured here in the official trailer. Feel the laughter, the heartbreak, and the electricity of live theatre in Staunton, Virginia.
Live Theatre. Real Reactions.
We caught up with audience members right outside the Blackfriars Playhouse in Staunton, Virginia—just minutes after they experienced Romeo & Juliet. Here’s what they had to say:
(Videos by Madison Patterson)
“Romeo and Juliet was fantastic.”
“Romeo and Juliet was fantastic. It was hilarious. It was tragic. It was all the great things in a play.”
“We loved it.”
“Yeah, it was phenomenal.”
“Absolutely phenomenal.”
“It was amazing.”
“10 out of 10. It was amazing.”
“My god, everybody killed it.”
“I just thought the characters really did a… they just brought it to life.”
“My god, everybody killed it. I mean, crying, laughing, all singing along, all the things.”
“Yeah, sing it along. Yeah, this is a great version. Yes.”
“Yeah. I actually enjoyed it more than the one that I saw in London at the Globe because of the space and the comedy and the acting.”
“I loved the updated modernized feel.”
“I loved the updated modernized feel. I loved the fun. I love the audience engagement.”
“I like her emotions and how she like expressed everything. It was really cool to watch.”
“It was amazing.”
“This version makes me really realize they’re teenagers.”
“I was not expecting to laugh nearly as much. He leaned over to me and he was like, ‘This version makes me really realize they’re teenagers.’ And I think that’s so important when it comes to Romeo and Juliet and it adds so much to the viewing experience.”
“That’s what this theater does. It makes you care more for the characters.”
“The dancing was amazing.”
“The dancing was amazing.”
“Even if like for some of the children, if they didn’t understand all the words, they could really feel, you know, what was going on and get an understanding for, you know, what was happening in the play.”
“I just loved all the singing and when they interacted with almost everybody in the crowd when they came to us on stage and when they went in the audience, it was really fun.”
“Best Romeo and Juliet I’ve seen.”
“Between the cut of the show and the actors and the direction, it was just absolutely incredible. Best Romeo and Juliet I’ve seen.”
Experience Shakespeare in Shared Light
At the American Shakespeare Center, every laugh, gasp, and tear is shared in the first-ever re-creation of Shakespeare’s indoor theatre.
Reserve Your Seats for Romeo & Juliet
Plan Your Visit to Staunton, Virginia
Your trip to see Romeo & Juliet can be more than a night at the theatre—it can be a full getaway to one of the most charming small towns in America.
The Blackfriars Playhouse is nestled in the heart of downtown Staunton, Virginia, just minutes from I-81 and a short drive from Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Richmond, and Washington, D.C. Staunton is surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah National Park, making it a perfect weekend escape that blends world-class theatre with Virginia’s natural beauty.
Blackfriars Playhouse
10 South Market Street
Staunton, VA 24401
- Free parking nearby
- Walkable to award-winning restaurants, shops, and historic hotels
- Named one of “America’s Best Small Towns” by Smithsonian Magazine
Whether you’re planning a romantic Virginia getaway, a family weekend escape, or a cultural trip through the Shenandoah Valley, Staunton offers it all—history, dining, mountain views, and unforgettable live theatre.
Make it more than a show. Make it a Staunton escape.