THEWIRE

Meding lands the role of Romeo

By Shane Smith

 

Last week, Tyler Meding was officially cast as Romeo for the Performing Arts Club (PAC) production of the modern adaptation of “Romeo and Juliet.” PAC will be putting on “Romeo and Juliet,” directed by Gayle Parola, on May 2 and 3 in the theater at the Arts & Science Center.

 

Meding planned to co-direct the play, but chose to be cast as Romeo instead due to the original Romeo not accepting the role for work-related reasons. Meding filled in for the part of Romeo and ended up having to make a decision for the sake of getting the performance off the ground. PAC decided to have Meding play as Romeo after fairly searching for another person to fill the role.

 

PAC started in the fall 2012 semester with a handful of people. Meding stated that ever since PAC first started, it has become more than a club. “We’re all friends, or at least close in some way,” Meding stated. “It makes working with each other so much easier.” 

 

Last spring semester, Meding volunteered to be a part of the crew as a stagehand for “Alice in Wonderland.”  He was asked if he wanted to act, and he did a read through. The director of the play decided to have Meding play as the Cheshire Cat. Meding also landed the lead role for the fall semester’s production of “The Importance of Being Earnest.”

 

“It was my first-ever audition, and I couldn’t believe that I got the lead role in that play,” Meding stated. “Ever since ‘Alice in Wonderland,’ all I really want to do now is act because it is so amazing and I immediately fell in love with it.”

 

Meding said the modern version of “Romeo and Juliet” has a lot of comedic aspects and tells a really “fun” side of the famous tale. “The modern-day play has the same concept as the original one,” Meding said. “This version happens to have some laughs in it, and with using modern-day language, I think the audience will get a kick out of it.” The character of Romeo is a womanizer who falls in love with every woman he sees. “As soon as he lays his eyes on Juliet,” Meding said, “he realizes that he wants her and only her.”

 

Meding’s has high hopes for “Romeo and Juliet.” He stated that this is a play that no one should miss. “I have a feeling that we’re going to put on a great show,” Meding stated. “We are all having so much fun. Getting to work with Gayle Parola is just as amazing because she is doing an amazing job leading us.”