It’s the classic story of star-crossed love and family rivalry that many people know. But this time, there are a few twists.

The theatre department’s version of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet opens tonight at 7 p.m. in Stuver Auditorium, with tickets priced at $7 for students and $10 general admission. Additional performances are Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

While the language and lines are the same, the costumes feature hipster-esque clothing, and a smaller role in the original is given an expanded part and a gender change.

“It makes [the story] deceitful because they make Benvolio, Benvolia,” said junior Adela Reiland, who is cast in the role of Juliet. “She and Mercutio have a love connection.”

That connection has a major impact on Romeo in the play’s climax.

The cast and crew has been working on this play since Sept. 2. Director Bradley Durio chose Romeo and Juliet because it was crossing an English class and theater.

“I chose Romeo and Juliet because it is a classic piece of literature that I think students can relate to,” Durio said. “It is also something that is studied in some English and Literature classes.”

Auditions began Aug. 28. The two leads, Reiland and senior Joshua Wallace as Romeo, talked about how the auditions went.

“I kind of had like a story to it because it was a Wednesday-Thursday audition thing and I just kind of came in randomly Thursday,” Reiland said. “I didn’t think I was going to stay in varsity theatre and I kind of just auditioned on the spot.”

Wallace’s audition story involved his attempt to prepare his monologue. He “thought” he had it memorized.

“I blanked out and I was like ‘ah crap,’ so I ended up having to read it off the paper,” Wallace said.

Blanking out is often caused by stage fright. While Wallace doesn’t struggle with that problem, Reiland said it’s different for her.

“It was a lot worse when I was younger,” Reiland said, “You just having to keep coming back, keep coming on stage and just keep doing that and it slowly gets more used to it. It’s just a process; the more you’re up here [on stage] the easier it gets.