Pat Benatar, Neil Giraldo Set 'Romeo and Juliet' To Their Music

SAG HARBOR, NY — Anyone who's ever put another notch in her lipstick case and headed to a Pat Benatar concert to rock out to "All Fired Up", "Treat Me Right," and "Hit Me With Your Best Shot," knows that beyond Benatar's powerhouse vocals and Neil Giraldo's show-stopping guitar solos, what's set to unfold on the stage is a love story, pure and simple.

Long Island-born Pat and her husband, whom she affectionately calls Spyder, have been married since 1982, and their shows are an homage to their love story, featuring timeless classics paired with personal stories from their lives and shared with rapt audiences.

It seems a natural, then, that a brand-new musical production, "The Romeo and Juliet Project," features the music of Benatar and Giraldo. The free "Under the Stars" community event, presented by the Bay Street Theater and Guild Hall in association with Jamie Cesa & Bel Chiasso Entertainment — the show is written by Bradley Bredeweg and directed by Scott Schwartz — takes place Friday and Saturday at Mashashimuet Park in Sag Harbor at 7 p.m.

“The Romeo and Juliet Project” reinvents the story of star-crossed lovers using the power of Pat Benatar's and Neil Giraldo's music to remind us what happens when we forget the impact of love, equality, and acceptance," a release for the show said. "The show brings us into the modern, war-torn metropolis of Verona as the newly-minted Chancellor Paris takes control and promises to return the city to its traditional roots and destroy the progressive resistance. This new musical is an intricate weaving of Benatar and Giraldo’s deeply emotional rock anthems exploring the question — what does it take to regain a world where peace is possible?"

Guests are invited to bring picnics, chairs and blankets to enjoy the free concert reading of the new musical in the park.

In an interview with Patch, Schwartz said the "Under the Stars" program, presenting free concert readings in the park, was created by Bay Street to serve the community. "The Romeo and Juliet Project," he said, represents the fourth time the "Under the Stars" program has been offered.

"This musical seemed uniquely appropriate for this program because it has great popular appeal and is a work in progress that will benefit from having an audience to experience it. And it just seemed like it will be a great time for all," he said.

Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo's music was the perfect fit for the classic tale, he said.

"It is amazing how will suited Pat and Neil’s body of work is to this timeless story. Their songs are filled with passion, energy, love and righteous anger. It almost feels as if they were written for this play," he said.

The show, Schwartz added, is deeply personal, especially based on the current climate. "The music and story combine to tell a timeless but also timely story of love in the face of war. In our world today, to see young people struggle to find love and triumph with it feels so relevant," he said.

Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo's music has long addressed social issues, including child abuse in "Hell is for Children." And their work is well-suited for a show dealing with human themes and struggles relevant throughout history, Schwartz said.

"I have tried to work with our writers to intertwine the music seamlessly with the story. And to bring the strong social consciousness of many of the songs into the world in the context," Schwarz said. "I hope the audience will think about the divisions in our country and our world, the hate that seems to be on the rise everywhere and consider again if there is another more hopeful and loving way we can approach each other."

When asked about the enduring power of love, Schwartz said: "I’m not sure love can conquer all, but I do think it has a power unparalleled in our lives. It is transformative and healing, and I hope this musical will be that for our audience at the show and beyond."