If you resisted the temptation to discuss politics with those you love at the Thanksgiving table, then you may appreciate the premise for Saxon Stage’s artistic vision of Romeo & Juliet. In our production, Shakespeare’s classic tale of romance and rivalry is set in Washington, D.C. in the late summer of 2020 amidst the heated political climate of an upcoming election. Lady Montague, a single mom and Democratic Congresswoman, matches wits against a well-established Republican Senator Capulet as they both attempt to become the next President of the United States. As they strategize how to achieve their political goals, their campaign supporters stand passionately behind them, ready to fight against any challenger or opposing viewpoint. However, their teenage children, Romeo and Juliet, have grown weary of the polarized campaign frenzy. They long for the love and attention of their parents, as well as a soulmate willing to make them the center of their universe. Shakespeare’s poetic text reveals an uncanny relevance to the tribal nature of today’s political environment. Word-for-word, the text rings true and the narrative is as powerful today as it was more than 400 years ago.