Elizabeth Peña to Star in Chicago Shakespeare Reading of Romeo y Julieta

Elizabeth Peña will star in a staged reading of Romeo y Julieta, a new bilingual adaptation by Karen Zacarías, directed by Henry Godinez, and presented by 2008 Regional Tony winner Chicago Shakespeare Theater at the Theatre at Little Village Lawndale High School July 25 and 26.

The play re-imagines Shakespeare’s story of two lovers on opposite sides of a divided city within a modern Latino community. Local Chicago band Luna Blues Machine will create a live musical soundscape for the performance.

Peña, who will play Lady Capulet, is a four-time winner of the American Latino Media Arts Award. Her film credits include the voice of “Mirage” in The Incredibles, Down and Out in Beverly Hills, La Bamba, Rush Hour, Lone Star (Independent Spirit Award, NCLR Bravo Award), Tortilla Soup and Transamerica.

Zacarías is the founding artistic director of Young Playwrights’ Theatre in Washington, D.C. and winner of the 2006 Francesca Primus Award. Godinez is co-founder of Teatro Vista, director of Chicago’s Latino Theatre Festival.

For more information, visit www.chicagoshakes.com.