Rivals Broadneck and Severna Park Unite

Shakespeare’s classic play Romeo and Juliet has been performed countless times- but never quite like this.

For the first time, a combined cast from Broadneck and Severna Park high schools came together for a lively and effective production. The appropriately chosen themed show of Romeo and Juliet is being held this weekend at the Children’s Theatre of Annapolis. Though the show kept all of the original dialogue, a twist has been added- the entire show was set to and featured music and clothing from the 1980’s.

The casting is flawless, with leads Chris Kemp as Romeo (from Broadneck) and Leah Channas (from Severna Park) as Juliet bringing all the love, tenderness, and tragedy needed for their roles. Other standout performances were those by Broadneck’s Hannah Strum, whose performance of “Benvolia” was both humorous and moving, and Chris Hudson, also from Broadneck, who portrayed the jokester "Mercutio" with all the wit and charm Shakespeare intended.

Of course, with a story about warring families, the well-known riff between the two high schools becomes very relevant. The Montague family was portrayed solely by Broadneck High School actors, while the Capulets were played by Severna Park students. Decorations such as “Go Broadneck” and “Falcons Rule” lined the walls of the theater.

So how did the friendly (or sometimes not-so-friendly) rivalry between Broadneck and Severna Park affect the actors behind the scenes?

“It was fantastic,” said Hudson (a Broadneck senior) of working with his Severna Park cast mates. “They’re great actors and people, and it was fun to meet new friends.”

“It was both very different and very similar to working with actors from our school,” Jocelyn Odell, a Severna Park junior, added. “It was a really just a lot of fun.”

“It was challenging at first, working out when and where the cast could rehearse, but definitely worth it in the end,” said Angie Germanos, the theater director from Severna Park.

When asked if the cast ever displayed any of the rivalry made famous by their schools, she replied, “There was some uneasiness at first, but it went away very quickly when the cast began to work together and make friends.”

The final performance will be held at the CTA theatre on Bay Head Road this afternoon at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 each.