Photo by @Ekopics

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- Duel Reality, from Montreal's famed troupe The 7 Fingers, comes to McCarter Theatre October 9-13, 2024. Inspired by Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, two feuding families engage in a battle of skill, each competition more daring than the last — while a pair of star-crossed lovers struggles to escape the showdown. 

In Duel Reality, the audience is invited to imagine a world where star-crossed lovers are circus stars, their love story unfolding through graceful and death-defying acrobatics. This cirque-infused performance dazzles the senses and stirs the heart, as two feuding families engage in increasingly daring battles of skill—while the star-crossed lovers struggle to escape the escalating conflict. The performance distills the classic love story to its core conflict and transforms the stage into a sporting arena, with the audience/spectators taking sides and cheering on their team.

McCarter Theatre Artistic Director Sarah Rasmussen calls it “a truly multi-generational show that offers an unforgettable night of theatre for all ages.” Recommended for ages 7 and up, this 75-minute performance is perfect for families, with no intermission to break the spell of its one-of-a-kind daredevil theatrical extravaganza.

Performances take place October 9 at 7:30pm; October 10 at 7:30pm; October 11 at 7:30pm; October 12 at 2:00pm & 7:30pm; and October 13 at 2:00pm.  Tickets are available for purchase online. McCarter Theatre is located at 91 University Place in Princeton, New Jersey.

The production has limited engagements in Boston, San Diego, Los Angeles, and Princeton before continuing to international stages in Canada, Germany, and France. The new production has received critical acclaim in its U.S. debut: “Wonders never cease with The 7 Fingers. Every time they take the stage—or soar above it—they test the limits of possibility.” - The Boston Globe

"FIVE STARS. An extraordinary display of mind-blowing acts of balance, control, musicality and pure talent." -- Theatre Weekly

Duel Reality was originally produced and created with Virgin Voyages, Commissioning Partner ArtsEmerson. The production is directed by Shana Carroll (2024 Tony Award Nominee).

The 7 Fingers are renowned for their work on Broadway, including Water for Elephants and the Tony Award-winning revival of Pippin (2013). Directed and choreographed by Shana Carroll, Duel Reality is more than just a show; it’s an extraordinary display of balance, control, musicality, and talent that has been lauded by Theatre Weekly as a “mind-blowing” act.

McCarter is one of the country's flagship theatres and a vibrant center for community and for the performing arts. Located on the campus of Princeton University, the company is an independent nonprofit, serving as a nationally renowned, multi-disciplinary creative hub of arts and ideas, offering theatre, music, dance, spoken word, and educational programs for all ages.

A two-time Tony Award winner, McCarter’s legacy of artistic excellence traces back to the theatre’s first performances in 1930. Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, Kaufmann & Hart’s You Can’t Take It with You, and William Inge’s Bus Stop all had their premieres on the McCarter stage, paving the way for a long history of collaborations with playwrights to launch remarkable works that have gone on to tens of thousands of performances reaching millions of audience members around the world. The company is equally revered for presenting global artists on its stages, including Alvin Ailey, Yo-Yo Ma, Samara Joy, Hasan Minhaj, Jon Stewart, Caetano Veloso, Rhiannon Giddens, Patti Smith, Esperanza Spalding, Lake Street Dive, and Herbie Hancock, among many others. Of the 100,000 community members who directly participate in the company’s work every year, more than 5,000 are students taking part in McCarter’s robust educational offerings in Princeton, Trenton, and in schools throughout the region. McCarter leads with values of “justice and joy, and beauty in belonging,” creating stories and experiences that enliven minds, expand imaginations, and engage communities.