Lake Perris State Recreation Area and Full Circle Players came together on July 26, 2025 to provide free and fun performances of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and La Mujer Dormida at the park’s Campfire Center. Full Circle Players has a mission of Theater for All, making theater accessible and inclusive to people from the entire community, no matter their background or experience.
The Lake Perris State Recreation Area’s campground, the largest in California State Parks with 400 campsites, made the perfect setting to engage campers of all ages with classic stories like these. Nearly 30 park visitors attended, cheering on the sword fights and shedding tears at love lost.
Although Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is well known, the pre-show, La Mujer Dormida, is a modern adaptation of an Aztec legend, written and directed by Steve Llamas. The show explores generational trauma and societal expectations. Romeo and Juliet, directed by Full Circle Players’ artistic director, Wendi Johnson, brought pathos, love, and comedy to the audience. With multi-character inclusive casting, exciting action, and modern storytelling techniques, the play drew audiences in and held their emotions until the final scene.
– By California State Parks’ Teri Pope, Interpretive Chief at Inland Empire District