Steel Magnolias starlet Condola Rashad is set to play Juliet alongside Orlando Bloom in a modern take on William Shakespeare’s classic tale, Romeo and Juliet, reports the Huffington Post.
The classic feud between the Montague and Capulet families will focus on their racial differences in this version of the play. While the adaptation will be modernized, the play’s original language will be used.
“Shakespeare did not only write of his world—he imagined ours,” said Tony-nominated director, David Leveaux. “The very improbability that two young people might, through their imaginations and their courage, change the world by overcoming the cynical tyranny of division handed down to them by their elders, is the best and happily most improbable reason I can imagine to bring this story to the Broadway stage today.”
Romeo and Juliet last hit the Broadway stage in 1977.
Previews of the play will start August 24 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre and the show will officially open September 19.