People vs Friar Laurence is a hilarious musical comedy rendition starring the Friar of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Friar Laurence is behind bars and charged with the murder of the two young lovers. The twisted trial progresses into a Vaudeville-like mayhem in the race to determine the plot behind the ultimate blame for Romeo and Juliet’s demise at the feet of Friar Laurence. The fast-moving freight train of characters and non-stop Shakespearean spoof of adventure takes the audience on a musical journey of love, confusion and chaos.  The show, a smash hit for Chicago Shakespeare Theater, is the funniest mash up of Shakespeare, Gilbert & Sullivan, sketch comedy, and American theater you’ve ever seen.

“Whip-smart, intensely amusing … a blast…” – Chicago Tribune
“Creators Ron West and Phil Swann vigorously attack the elements of Shakespeare’s story, loosing the Bard’s words and adding a blizzard of laugh-inducing moments that ramp up the original story line. This is a land of witty songs, wacky characterizations and silly modern references that fit together like warped pieces of a very old puzzle.” – Chicago Sun-Times

“The People vs. Friar Laurence does to Romeo and Juliet what Mel Brooks did to Robin Hood and westerns, though it may be even wittier.” – Lansing City Pulse

Auditions: Feb. 14 & 15 – 7 p.m.

Book, Lyrics, and Music by Ron West and Phil Swann

Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French