As a freshman in high school, CJ Krueger saw "Romeo and Juliet" at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. Now a UW-Eau Claire senior, Krueger is starring in the play that influenced him to become an actor.

"It's amazing to play Romeo, one of those great historical roles," said the comprehensive theater arts major.

Presented by the UW-Eau Claire music and theater arts department, "Romeo and Juliet" opens tonight in Kjer Theatre on lower campus.

UW-Eau Claire's production takes place in the original setting of 1550 in Verona. The play employs Elizabethan language and Renaissance costumes.

"We're trying to be as historically accurate as we can," director F. Reed Brown said. "It's as close as I could come."

William Shakespeare's tragedy tells the story of forbidden lovers who wed in secret. The marriage is jeopardized by their families' ongoing feud.

Although known as a love story, "Romeo and Juliet" contains considerable action, including swordplay, Brown said.

"It's a very violent play," he said. "People forget about that."

The role of Juliet has been psychologically taxing for freshman Sami Johnson, she said.

"It's a roller coaster of emotions every night," she said. "If you don't go all the way, you're not doing it justice."

Although difficult, the part is a "dream come true," Johnson added.

"It has been the role of a lifetime," said the theater and Spanish major. "It's a landmark role that a lot of actresses want to play."

The cast of 26 has studied Shakespeare's text to convey it accurately to audiences.

"All of us have done so much work to make the language understandable," Krueger said.

Brown, who began teaching at UW-Eau Claire in August, was involved with the Illinois Shakespeare Festival for two years. He's not intimidated to direct such a well-known play, he said.

"It's a famous piece," he said. "People come with expectations. You tell the story the best you can."

That story combines passion, tragedy, comedy and action, Johnson said.

"If you think you've seen ‘Romeo and Juliet,' you've never seen it like this," she said. "People haven't seen it this detailed."

Espe can be reached at 715-833-9206, 800-236-7077 or troy.espe@ecpc.com.

If You Go

What: "Romeo and Juliet," presented by the UW-Eau Claire music and theater arts department.

When: 7:30 p.m. today through Saturday and May 12-15; 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

Where: Kjer Theatre, UW-Eau Claire.

Tickets: $10, public; $8, senior citizens and UW-Eau Claire staff; $6, children; $2.50, UW-Eau Claire students.

Information: 715-836-3727 or 800-949-8932.