Photo Flash: First Look at Jack Mikesell and Christina Elmore in SCLA's ROMEO AND JULIET

Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles (SCLA), under the artistic direction of Ben Donenberg, returns to the Japanese Garden at the Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare Campus for the third consecutive summer, with a Los Angeles-centric summer production of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet- directed by Royal Shakespeare Company and Royal National Theatre alum Kenn Sabberton - for seventeen performances only, tonight, July 8 to July 26 (press opening July 13). Scroll down for a first look at the star-crossed lovers in action!

The cast includes Jack Mikesell (Rizzoli & Isles) as Romeo, Christina Elmore (Fruitvale Station, The Last Ship) as Juliet, Elijah Alexander (Metamophoses on Broadway, Mr. and Mrs. Smith) as Lord Capulet, Tracey A. Leigh (Grey's Anatomy,Death of a Salesman at SCR) as Lady Capulet, Gregg Daniel (True Blood) as Lord Montague, Wyatt Fenner (Rest andThe Whale at SCR) as Benvolio, Gregory Linington (Shameless, Major Crimes) as Mercutio, Chris Rivera (Shakespeare Center Los Angeles, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, ER and Castle) as Tybalt, Michael Manuel (Medium, National Treasure) as Friar Lawrence, Tony-Award-Nominee Kimberly Scott (I am Sam, The Velocity of Gary) as Nurse, Cristina Frias (Black Butterfly, Culture Clash) as Prince and Colin Bates (Billy Elliott) as Paris.

Artistic director Ben Donenberg said, "This July, we light up the Japanese Garden with a new production of Romeo and Juliet that draws its inspiration from 1920s Los Angeles, when the rivalry between newspapers seeking readers, influence, revenue, and power broke out into gang skirmishes that matched the lurid and sensational brand of journalism popular then as we reimagined the Capulets and the Montagues as the Chandlers vs. the Hearsts. For the fourth time for Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles, the imaginative director Kenn Sabberton invigorates our stage with Shakespeare that speaks directly to modern audiences. It is also our third summer at the Japanese Garden, a unique venue which exemplifies how wondrous our city can be."

The Japanese Garden is located on the grounds of the Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare Campus at 11301 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90073 (adjacent to the Brentwood Theatre). Tickets, starting at $20, are available by calling213.893.8293 or online at www.shakespearecenter.org. For information about the ticket program for active military and veterans, call SCLA at 213-481-2273.

Photo Credit: Michael Lamont