"Romeo & Juliet" mixes pros with teens at the Blackbird

The Blackbird Theatre Academy — a free program for local middle and high school students — will present a fully staged reading of "Romeo & Juliet" on Friday night at 8 p.m., featuring young people in the main roles but professional actors (like Malcolm Tulip, Dana Sutton, Connie Cowper and Alysia Kolascz) in supporting roles.

The reading is directed by Jamie Weeder and the actors will perform with scripts in-hand and minimal set/props. Tickets are $25 and available at 734-332-3848 or the Blackbird Theatre web site. (A one-hour touring production, performed by only six actors in grades 9-12, is available for booking; for more information, email barton@blackbirdtheatre.org.)

Jenn McKee is the entertainment digital journalist for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at jennmckee@annarbor.com or 734-623-2546, and follow her on Twitter @jennmckee.