Romeo, Juliet get their buzz on

The Blank Conversations Theatre Company (BCTC) is returning to the stage with a new version of their intoxicating series of actors doing William Shakespeare while drinking.

“Brews with the Bard: Romeo & Juliet Get Trashed” plays at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Aug. 18 and 19 at the Rio Grande Theatre, 211 N. Main St.

“Brews with the Bard” is a series of productions presented by BCTC, inspired by the phenomenon of “Drunk Shakespeare” in New York and Chicago, in which a rotating group of actors attempt to perform a Shakespeare classic while growing increasingly intoxicated. BCTC presented “Brews with the Bard: A Tipsy Twelfth Night,” directed by Riley Merritt, at Grounded last summer, which proved the concept to be a hit.

“Romeo & Juliet Get Trashed” is a drunken take on the tragic love story, organized by Darcy Harman and Gus David Sanchez. The cast features Mattie Ruminer and Reagan Szulc (both seen in Green Day’s AMERICAN IDIOT) as the titular characters, with an ensemble featuring Yocelin Torres, Devin Lowther, Rachel Maze, Christian Tercero, Chris Quezada, Liz Garcia, Ethan Trujillo and Emilia Linley.

“‘Tipsy Twelfth Night’ proved to me that people can engage with Shakespeare when they have a reason to be, and alcohol helps that engagement” said Sanchez, returning to co-direct for BCTC.

“People think of Shakespeare as dry and boring; they forget that he was writing for the people and the people drank more beer than water,” said Harman, who played Maria in last year’s “A Tipsy Twelfth Night.”

Doors will open at the Rio Grande Theatre at 6 p.m. both nights. The theatre will offer a discount on alcohol options during the show, with a drink limit. Tickets are $10 and can be found at www.riograndetheatre.org and more information about Blank Conversations can be found at www.blankconver