University of Jamestown stages Romeo and Juliet at Reiland Fine Arts Center

Jamestown families had a chance to see University of Jamestown students and performers bring Romeo and Juliet to the Reiland Fine Arts Center, turning Shakespeare’s tragedy into a community night out on campus. The production opened Thursday, April 9, and continued Friday, April 10, and Saturday, April 11.

Under the direction of Mike McIntyre, the show gave the classic story of two young lovers caught between rival families a fresh local staging. Rehearsals began Feb. 19, which meant the cast and crew spent nearly two months working through dialogue, blocking and choreography before opening night.

The production also drew strength from behind-the-scenes work. Penny Briese served as costume designer, adding to the visual atmosphere at Reiland Fine Arts Center on the University of Jamestown campus. That kind of detailed preparation matters in a live performance setting, where every scene depends on timing, coordination and the look of the production as much as the acting.

For Jamestown, the performances fit into a larger role the university plays as a cultural hub, not just an academic institution or sports stop. Reiland Fine Arts Center has hosted other campus arts events, including music recitals and earlier theatre productions, and UJ theatre has previously used the space for multiple shows in a season. McIntyre has also pointed in past years to the program’s return to a normal theatre schedule, underscoring that stage productions remain a steady part of campus life.

The Romeo and Juliet run added another reason for residents to spend an evening on campus and see what UJ students can do outside the classroom and away from the field. It also reinforced how much the university contributes to Stutsman County’s public life through the arts, giving the community access to a familiar story staged by local talent in a venue that continues to anchor performances in Jamestown.