Orlando Bloom makes his Broadway debut in a contemporary version of a Shakespeare classic.
Director David Leveaux creates a new revival of the Shakespearean classic Romeo and Juliet. He casts African American actors as Juliet and her family, the Capulets, and white actors as Romeo and his family, the Montagues. However, the conflict between the families has nothing to do with their race. The production does not give a specific time period and it is not set in a specific place.
As a more contemporary Romeo, Bloom wears jeans and a hoodie and rides a motorcycle. Leveaux thought Bloom's good looks made him perfect for the job.
"Orlando has an enormous grace," Leveaux said, "and there is a fantastic decency about him that I think is fundamental to why we care about Romeo."
Tony nominated actress Condola Rashad stars as Juliet. She spoke to broadway.com about Bloom.
"He's a heartthrob, that one!" Rashad said. "The thing about him that is even more appealing is that he's also a wonderful actor and a hard worker."
Bloom was cast as Orsino in a drama-school production of Twelfth Night, but broke his back and never got to do it.
Romeo and Juliet is "Shakespeare's ode to the youth of his generation," Bloom said. "So it's important that we reach youth now."
Aside from Broadway, Bloom will once again play Legolas in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug out in December.
Photo Courtesy of ABC
