What happens when you strip Romeo and Juliet down to its barest essentials — no rehearsals, no new props or costumes, and zero tolerance for waste? You get a raw, unpredictable, and radically eco-conscious production that reimagines Shakespeare’s most iconic tragedy for a world in crisis. This July, River’s Edge Theater Company brings that bold experiment to Bethany Arts Community in Ossining, proving that great theater doesn’t require excess — just heart, ingenuity, and a fierce commitment to sustainability.
Twelve fearless actors will take the stage without ever having rehearsed together. Their only tools? Memorized lines, quick instincts, and trust. In this collaborative, environmentally conscious performance, each performer must create their own costume and props from what they already own or can borrow. Purchasing anything new is strictly off-limits. The goal: to make thrilling, high-impact theater using only what’s already at hand.
“It’s really about making the smallest carbon footprint possible,” says Meghan Covington, who co-founded River’s Edge Theater Company in 2019 with her husband, David. Based in Hastings-on-Hudson, the nonprofit arts organization has built a reputation for tackling urgent social issues — from climate change to racial justice — through bold, thought-provoking work. “We hope it inspires people to think twice about what they consume and how they live,” Covington adds, noting the production’s minimal use of materials, travel, and energy.
At the helm is Jessica Irons, director of the production and president of the board at Bethany Arts Community. In a time of deep division, Irons believes Romeo and Juliet is more relevant than ever. “It’s a story about grownups locked in cycles of hatred they can barely remember the reasons for, and young people who pay the price — even though they start out just ridiculously in love,” she says. “The real tragedy is that the adults are so reckless with their rage, the kids never get the chance to grow up and laugh at themselves. It all goes too far, simply because the grownups won’t behave like grownups.”
River’s Edge debuted this zero-waste format at Bethany last summer with A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and audience response was so enthusiastic, they’re doubling down. This time, the famously doomed lovers — played by Ossining native Emily Dziak and Dan Kelly — won’t meet until the show itself.
The only exception? A single three-hour tech rehearsal the day before opening, used to coordinate lighting and sound, and to safely choreograph scenes involving combat and intimacy.
The staging is intentionally bare bones. There’s no elaborate set — perhaps a step ladder for a balcony, a curtain for concealment. “In Shakespeare’s time, actors brought their own costumes and had little rehearsal,” Covington says. “We’re not just going green — we’re going back in time. It’s part environmental mission, part time-travel experiment.”
If an actor blanks on a line, they simply call out “Prithee!” and the designated “Prithee Master” will whisper the next cue. Each slip adds a quarter to the communal “line jar,” which, along with a portion of ticket sales, will be donated to Riverkeeper, the nonprofit watchdog protecting the Hudson River.
In the spirit of Shakespeare’s most famous question —“To be or not to be?”— this unconventional Romeo and Juliet answers with conviction: To be! … for the river, for the planet, and for a more sustainable future. And for excellent, community-rooted theater that pushes boundaries and expectations.
Catch Homegrown Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet at Bethany Arts Community on Saturday, July 19th at 4:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday July 20th at 4:00 p.m. The show runs under 90 minutes and is recommended for ages 10 and up. Seating is limited to 70 per performance, and tickets are available in advance exclusively at riversedgetheatre.com. Audiences are encouraged to arrive early or stay after to explore Bethany’s art galleries and outdoor sculpture trails.
