In this first week of the ISO’s Shakespeare festival, acclaimed director and educator Kim Martin-Cotten directs scenes from Romeo and Juliet, set to Prokofiev’s beloved score, under the baton of ISO Artistic Advisor Jun Märkl.
“Experiencing a world-class orchestra – with the addition of exceptional actors – is a rare delight!” Martin-Cotton said. “We will be layering Prokofiev’s music with scenes from the stunning tragic romance of Romeo and Juliet. The music and Shakespeare’s language weave together and create an entirely unique experience of a magnificent classical work.”
This adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragedy features one of the most revered ballet scores in history. Full of stunning melodies, the score perfectly captures the characters’ tragic fate. Featuring the acting talents of Lisa Tejero, Heidi Armbruster, Jessica Andrews, Benjamin Bonenfant, Adam Crowe, Jaddy Ciucci, Paul Deo, Jr., and Daniel Martin.
“The Balcony Scene in Romeo and Juliet is what will lift hearts, but the tragedy of the deaths in Romeo and Juliet with also expand the sense of longing in people,” Martin-Cotton said. “The story is so beautiful that there is so much from deep love to danger to loss that speaks powerfully of the human experience. Prokofiev wrote this as a ballet, so it is a unique opportunity to perform this with actors to tell the story alongside the music instead of dancers.”
Click here to buy tickets now. Performances begin at 8 p.m. Friday, June 9, and 5:30 p.m. Saturday, June 10. For more information regarding the policies of the Hilbert Circle Theatre, please visit IndianapolisSymphony.org.
About Jun Märkl
Jun Märkl is a highly respected interpreter of both symphonic and operatic Germanic repertoire, and also for his idiomatic explorations of the French impressionists. His long-standing relationships at the state operas of Vienna, Berlin, Munich, and Semperoper Dresden have been complemented by his directorships of the Nationaltheater Mannheim (1994-2000), Orchestre National de Lyon (2005-11), MDR Symphony Orchestra Leipzig (2007-2012), and the Basque National Orchestra (2014-17).
Märkl is holding positions with the Malaysia Philharmonic Orchestra as Music Director since 2021, National Symphony Orchestra of Taiwan as Music Director from 2022, Artistic Advisor of Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and Principal Guest Conductor of Resident Orkest Den Haag and Oregon Symphony Orchestra. He appeared with many of the world’s leading orchestras, among others the Bavarian Radio Symphony, Munich, Hamburg, Oslo philharmonics, the Cleveland, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Montreal, Melbourne, Sydney orchestras, NHK Symphony Orchestra Tokyo, Tonhalle Orchester Zürich, and Orchestre de Paris.
About Kim Martin-Cotton
Kim Martin-Cotten is a producer, director, actor, and educator. She is currently the Associate Artistic Director at South Coast Rep as well as the Co-Director of the Pacific Playwrights Festival. Prior to that, she has held the positions of Artistic Producer and Associate Director of New Works for Kansas City Repertory Theatre.
Martin-Cotten is also the founding Artistic Producer of off-Broadway company Hang A Tale, devoted to developing new work and reimagining classics. Hang A Tale focused on collaboration with a core of New York artists including guest artists Marcia Stephanie Blake, Michael Shannon, Andre Holland, Michael Emerson, Lynn Cohen, and Peter Gerety, among others. Kim directed Hang A Tale’s production of The Little Prince that was nominated for an Off-Broadway Alliance Award.
About the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, at home and thriving in the heart of Indianapolis, offers an exceptional artistic and musical experience. The orchestra is open to all and dedicated to creating an inclusive and innovative experiential environment that is inspiring, educational, and welcoming. The ISO celebrates historically beloved performances while engaging audiences by introducing new voices through programming including the DeHaan Classical Series, the Printing Partners Pops Series, the holiday traditions of AES Indiana Yuletide Celebration and the popular Film Series presented by Bank of America. For more information, visit IndianapolisSymphony.org.