Now that I am back in the United States, I returned to the Orlando Shakespeare Theater to see a performance of Black Ham. All the posters that I designed, and painted were in the lobby which is rewarding to see. This rounded wall is part of the Patrons Room, which was once a planetarium, when the building was a museum many years ago.
I haven’t been to many live performances since the worst of the pandemic. I remain cautious, preferring to sketch dress rehearsals. At this performance of Fat Ham, I asked to be seated in the furthest back row. This makes sure no one is distracted as I sketch because they will not be tempted to be looking over my shoulder. When the theater is completely dark, I use my iPhone to illuminate the sketch page. I turn the brightness down on my phone, but any illumination like that might distract anyone seated behind me. My goal is always to be completely clandestine.
The Orlando Shakespeare Theater always has multi racial cast. They cast shows based on the best performer for the part.When I painted the Romeo and Juliet poster, I had no idea who would be cast in the roles. I depicted Romeo hugging Juliet from behind and their embrace creates a heart shape with their arms. I am not even sure if people seeing the poster would see the heart shape. Juliet’s face is largely hidden by a dagger. I depicted Juliet as white but I would have been just as happy to depict a darker skin tone. What matters to me is the concept with the tangle of arms in a heart shape and the shattered glass behind the couple. There is even some ambiguity as to whose arms are whose and that was purposeful. In love, light and dark become entangled creating a new more powerful whole.
The Orlando Shakes faced backlash in early 2026 over its “Romeo and Juliet” production, which featured a Black actor as Juliet opposite a White Romeo. The theater received racist comments on social media, prompting them to publicly condemn the hate speech, affirm their commitment to inclusive casting, and rally community support for the performers.
The Orlando Shakespeare statement reads in part: “At Orlando Shakes, we believe theater is a space for empathy, humanity, and connection…We do not tolerate or condone hate speech, harassment, or any language that demeans individuals or communities based on race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic… Shakespeare’s work endures not because it is frozen in time, but because each generation finds ways to see themselves within it.”
Hate is encouraged by the present administration in Washington D.C. The troll come out of the woodwork encouraged by the hate and vitriol they see coming from Washington. I am so proud to work for a theater that is inclusive. As I see the theater patrons tapping on their phones in front of my theater posters, I have to wonder if they are tapping in love and inclusion or hate into their social media feeds. Orlando embraced love after the Pulse nightclub massacre, and they once again rallied in support of the Shakes when trolls attacked the show online.