& Juliet - The Modern Shakespeare Remix That’s Bringing Big Broadway Energy to Reno

What if Juliet didn’t die at the end of Romeo & Juliet?  That’s the question at the heart of & Juliet, now showing at:

The Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts
100 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89501

October 21-26, 2025

***Photography & videography prohibited during performances.  Photos & video allowed before, after, and during intermission.

***Check out the Pioneer Center's new enhanced safety protocols before your visit.

WEBSITE

Instagram | Pioneer Center | & Juliet

Trailer

Written by musical theatre writer Dave West Read
Music by Max Martin

Friends, I had no idea what to expect coming into the show. Sure, I kind of saw the trailer for it some months ago, but let me just say that it doesn’t even come close to doing this play justice. & Juliet is a modern day play packed with incredible talent, wit, humor, millennial Easter eggs, food for thought, morals, and all the pop anthems I grew up with and were such a big part of my younger self. 

This play had me grinning from ear to ear with its multiple storylines and big personalities, and it left me with an uncontrollable need to dance and sing out loud (all throughout the play). I really enjoyed the nostalgic tracks that were cleverly embedded in the heart of the play (yes, the play doubles up as a full blown concert), along with the stunning set, the amazing singing and dancing, and the love woven throughout. I couldn’t help but appreciate how far we’ve come in embracing diversity and inclusion. Plays are such powerful and entertaining forms of art, capable of conveying messages and lessons that speak to today’s generation while still connecting with audiences of all ages. This is why I absolutely love Broadway and support The Pioneer Center with all my heart.  It’s the best way to learn, feel, and be moved in the most effective & impactful way.

A little backstory for my friends who are unfamiliar with Romeo and Juliet. If you know anything about Shakespeare, he was famous for his tragic plays. And if my memory serves me right, he lived during the bubonic plague, a deadly disease that caused the Black Death and claimed millions of lives in Europe around the 14th century. I’m giving myself a pat on the back for remembering that without looking it up. Little wins, friends… always celebrate them, no matter how big or small, LOL.

So what did this mean for his plays? A lot of darkness.  Shakespeare lived through dark and uncertain times marked by death, political unrest, and outbreaks of the bubonic plague, which may have influenced the tragic themes in many of his plays... But I'm no Shakespeare expert, so please chime in if you have some insight to share.  

One of Shakespeare’s most well known work, Romeo and Juliet, tells the story of two teenagers from feuding families in Verona, Italy - Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet - who fall in love at first sight. Their love is forbidden, so they secretly marry.

A series of tragic misunderstandings, impulsive decisions, and bad timing leads to both of them dying young in the most heartbreaking way (I’ll leave the spoilers out so you can experience it yourself). In the end, their deaths finally make their families reconcile, but at a devastating cost.

If you're interested in attending this play, I suggest watching THIS (1996) version of Romeo & Juliet first to get a good feel for the story and to prime you for the play so that you may appreciate and understand it a little better.

& Juliet flips the script, imagining what would happen if Juliet didn’t die. Without giving too much away, I’ll just say this play will leave you smiling, dancing, and thinking long after the curtain falls.

What to Expect
This show is full of energetic fun and meaningful moments. It is inclusive and diverse. It bursts with joyful energy, witty humor, and boy band style vibes. It is written with a modern day spin & loaded with all the pop anthems you know and love. It's visually and audibly spectacular and celebrates self discovery, second chances, and rewriting your own ending.

Song List (featured in play)

Act One

Larger Than Life - Backstreet Boys
I Want It That Way - Backstreet Boys
Baby One More Time - Britney Spears
Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely - Backstreet Boys
Domino - Jessie J
Show Me Love - Robyn
Blow - Ke$ha
I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman - Britney Spears
Overprotected - Britney Spears
Confident - Demi Lovato
Teenage Dream/Break Free -  Katy Perry/Ariana Grande feat. Zedd
Oops! I Did It Again - Britney Spears
I Kissed a Girl - Katy Perry
It’s My Life - Bon Jovi

Act Two

Love Me Like You Do - Ellie Goulding
Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson
Whataya Want From Me - Adam Lambert
One More Try - Original song
Problem/Can’t Feel My Face - Ariana Grande & Iggy Azalea/The Weeknd
That’s the Way It Is - Celine Dion
Everybody - Backstreet Boys
As Long as You Love Me - Backstreet Boys
It’s Gonna Be Me - NSYNC
Shape of My Heart - Backstreet Boys
Stronger - Britney Spears
Fuckin’ Perfect - Pink
Roar - Katy Perry
I Want It That Way - Backstreet Boys
Can’t Stop the Feeling! - Justin Timberlake

Who Will Love & Juliet 
(suggested for ages 10+.  Includes a little profanity.)

Pop music lovers
Young adults and teens
Women and girls
Broadway and musical theatre fans
Humor and pop culture enthusiasts

My Takeaway

Friends, Broadway is pure theatre magic, a legacy that’s been developing for more than 150 years. Over that time, it’s become synonymous with excellence, storytelling, and the kind of artistry that just sticks with you. Every cast member you see on stage has gone through years of training and has been handpicked from countless talented applicants. The way they move, sing, and bring characters to life is absolutely mesmerizing.

If you’ve never experienced a Broadway show, there’s no better time. & Juliet is fun, uplifting, and bursting with heart. You’ll leave smiling, humming, and feeling inspired.

Upcoming Shows at the Pioneer Center

Stereophonic: December 2-7, 2025

The Notebook: The Musical: March 24-29, 2026

Shucked: May 26-31, 2026

Hell’s Kitchen: June 30-July 5, 2026

Helpful Tips

-Free parking available at the lot across the street from the Pioneer Center.  You can’t miss it.  Park tail in first and next to an exit.
-Intermission: 15 minutes.  Concessions available on both levels, though the one downstairs flows a bit faster.

-Purchase a souvenir cup and bring it back to other shows for a small discount off your next beverages.  Cocktail & Mocktail available at all shows.

-Don't forget to check out the merchandise section.  While prices may be higher, your purchase supports the production and their mission.
-Student rush tickets: $25 per ticket (limit 2 per ID).  Student Tickets are for any students with a valid ID including UNR, TMCC, WCSD.  Must be purchased in person at the box office.  Available 2 hours before showtime.

-Single seat tickets: $40 each.  Single Seats can be purchased online or at the Box Office.

BIG thanks to the pioneer for inviting me over for this incredible play.  I have no words for how much fun I had.

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The Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, located in downtown Reno, Nevada, is a cornerstone of the region's cultural scene. Established in 1967, it was designed by the architectural firm Bozalis, Dickinson and Roloff and features a distinctive gold geodesic dome roof, earning it the nickname "Golden Turtle." The venue seats 1,500 and is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places for its unique architecture and cultural significance.

Offerings

The Pioneer Center hosts a diverse array of performances, including Broadway shows, concerts, dance recitals, and community events. It is home to resident companies such as the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra and A.V.A. Ballet Theatre. The center also features the Pioneer Center Youth Programs, which have been bringing the performing arts directly into elementary schools and public libraries in northern Nevada for over 50 years. 

Community Impact

Aside its role as a performance venue, the Pioneer Center is deeply committed to giving back to the community. Through educational outreach programs, it introduces young audiences to the arts, fostering a love for music, dance, and theater. The center also serves as a gathering place for local artists and performers, and does a little work on the side with helping raise funds for local non profits like the SPCA of Northern Nevada.

***Information subject to change.  All opinions are my own.***

© Photography

Katherine Fung, 

All Rights Reserved.

Categorized Under "Arts & Culture"

Terror in Reno: The Biggest Little Horror Shop Curates a Must-Watch Halloween Movie List for All Ages

Are you the type of person who visits every store selling Halloween merch just to soak in the vibes? Do you start decorating long before October even hits, throw money at every Halloween themed food and drink, and defend pumpkin spice like your life depends on it? Hahahah. Well, you’ve come to the right place, and lucky for you, I’ve got the ultimate Halloween movie list curated by none other than the biggest Halloween fanatic around, Tim, co-owner of the biggest little local year round Halloween shop, TERROR. This list has everything from childhood classics and ghostly comedies to terrifying cult favorites that’ll make you sleep with one eye open.

Grab your candy corn & popcorn, dim the lights, burn the candles, and let’s celebrate the most wickedly wonderful time of year. 

This Blockbuster scene at Terror… it’s an if you know, you know kind of deal. For my younger friends, there was this place called Blockbuster, a video rental chain that thrived from the mid 1980s through the early 2010s, where people went to rent movies. Picture walls of DVDs (and before that, VHS tapes) displayed on every wall of a huge rectangular building, LOL. Those were the days… scratched discs, blue shirts, and all.

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Terror 

Shop of Horror

670 Alvaro St, Reno, NV 89503

Website

Instagram

Terror is the ultimate playground for anyone who lives and breathes Halloween and horror. Nestled in Northwest Reno, this year-round shop is run by Timothy and Christopher, two guys who are absolutely obsessed with all things horror. There’s nothing like being surrounded by the spirit of Halloween in human form.  These two bring the magic to life on all levels.  

Inside, you’ll find everything from action figures, collectibles, quality masks of your favorite Halloween icons, costumes, and apparel to jaw dropping Hollywood like props and impressive one of a kind artwork, like Timothy’s custom Halloween themed creations - the Mars Attack coffee table, Frankenstein sofa, The Ring TV model, confessional display, canvas paintings - and thoughtfully crafted Halloween themed rooms inspired by horror classics (Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Exorcist), all made with such talent & passion. 

Despite it's size, every corner of the shop is packed with atmosphere.  I can only attribute this Halloween dreamland magic to their passion, love, and mission to sharing their love & devotion to all things Halloween. They’ve created an incredible world where all Halloween enthusiasts can gather and celebrate our love for all things spooky. I’m beyond thrilled to finally be featuring them on my blog, and a huge thank you to Tim for taking the time to curate such a rad list of movie suggestions.

On top of their incredible shop and creativity, Timothy and Christopher (& Jaylin ❤) are some of the most down to earth people you’ll ever meet. During my last visit, I laughed so hard just chatting with them that I cried.  It’s that kind of warmth and passion that makes Terror feel like more than a store.  So grab your broomsticks, light your jack o’lanterns, and step inside...  the magic of Halloween awaits.

A Note From Tim

👻 Hey y’all, Halloween season has officially started! 🎃

Today we wanted to share some of our favorite Halloween movies, some fun for the kiddos and some spooky ones for the grown ups. Whether you’re into lighthearted vibes or bone chilling scares, there’s something here for you.

For the Kids (and the young at heart)

Halloweentown 

A Disney Channel classic where a girl finds out she’s from a family of witches and discovers a magical town full of creatures.

The Haunted Mansion 

Eddie Murphy moves into a haunted house with his family… and let’s just say the ghosts are not shy.

Hocus Pocus

The Sanderson sisters come back after 300 years to cause trouble in Salem. Light the black flame candle at your own risk!

Casper 

The friendliest ghost around makes friends with a young girl, but his ghostly uncles aren’t so welcoming.

Goosebumps 

R.L. Stine’s creepy creatures come to life, and chaos follows. Spooky fun without being too scary.

Tim is a crazy talented artist.  Check out his artwork displayed all throughout the shop.

Anyone else wish you were born in October? LOL

Adults Only ( Enter if you dare)

These will really get you into the Halloween spirit. A lot of them literally revolve around Halloween night, which makes them even better.

 Halloween Trilogy 

Michael Myers never stops. The mask, the music, the suspense, it’s everything Halloween

Terrifier Trilogy

Super gory and over the top, but if you’re into slashers, Art the Clown delivers.

Trick ‘r Treat 

A Halloween anthology that ties different creepy stories together. Definitely a must-watch this season.

Pumpkinhead 

A vengeful demon summoned in the woods… I LOVE this one.

Psycho 

Norman Bates and the infamous shower scene. Classic horror that still holds up.

Scream Trilogy 

Always fun, full of twists, and makes you second-guess everyone.

The Exorcist 

One of the scariest classics out there. Possession at its finest (and most terrifying).

Poltergeist (OG)

Creepy TVs, haunted houses, and ZELDAAA! Still gives me chills.

Tim's niece, Jaylin, is the talented young lady behind the Halloween-themed jewelry you'll find at the shop.  She's just the sweetest (& coolest) person ever. 

Lesser-Known but Worth the Watch

The Autopsy of Jane Doe

A mysterious body with terrifying secrets. This one really spooks me.

The Taking of Deborah Logan

Starts like a documentary, turns into a scary possession films. Spooks me too.

Oddity 

Creepy, eerie, and unsettling in all the right ways. Another one that stuck with me.

Bring Her Back 

A real solid watch if you want something new.

Terrified 

Subtitles needed, but worth it. Spooky with a little campy editing, but still a fun ride.

Incident in a Ghostland  

Saw this when it first came out and I still think it’s underrated.

Wolf Creek 2 

You don’t even need to see the first. It’s brutal, dark, and a wild ride.

From yours truly,

Terror

Notes

*Parking available.

*Mostly everything you see at the shop is available for purchase, including furniture & custom canvas art.

*Look out for special photo opps at the shop with halloween icons like Leatherface from Texas Chainsaw Massacre ($).

*The shop is being affected by tariffs.  Please take this into consideration with pricing.

***Information subject to change.  All opinions are my own.

Photography

© Katherine Fung,

All rights reserved.

Categorized Under "Local Businesses & Seasonal/Holidays"

From Watching Balloons to Flying Them: Interview with Chris Casaceli - Pilot, Photographer, Musician, & Filmmaker

Instagram

Website

YouTube

Band

Backstory - How I Met Chris

Back in July, I was invited out to media day for the Great Reno Balloon Race (forever grateful, Gattuso Coalition💜). After my incredible ride, I found myself chatting with a lovely couple in the Chinese Pagoda Picnic Pavilion (yes, I linked it up so you can rent it out and party here, LOL) at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. Somehow, our conversation turned to geology, and this amazing man named Robert started telling me a story about how he accurately predicted a volcano eruption and gathered his friends to witness it firsthand. Low key, I felt like someone should have been recording this.  How often do you meet someone who’s spent their life studying volcanoes and has been inside them numerous times?

As it turns out, this incredible man was Chris Casaceli’s father. After a long, lovely chat with Robert and his wonderful wife, Terry, Chris stepped into the picture, and what do you know, his parents were there helping crew for his balloon.  Fun fact: a typical balloon crew usually needs 3-5 people to help load and unload the balloon, though a dedicated pilot can sometimes get away with just 2.

Chris is a hot air balloon pilot.  I can’t tell you how exciting it is to meet balloon pilots. It’s kind of like meeting your airplane pilot (or maybe that’s just me)?  I have nothing but respect for them, and for all pilots in general - they defy gravity, spark imaginations with their stories, embody adventure & freedom, and remind us what it means to live BOLDLY.  Watching them reminds me that life, too, is meant to be explored... taking risks, following curiosity, and embracing every chance to live fully.  

We ended up talking for what felt like an hour, and when I finally looked up, the buzzing morning crowd and spectators had all disappeared.

After all these years of living in Reno, I can’t tell you how many special moments I’ve had just like this one, meeting passionate, down to earth people who are willing to share a glimpse of their world. There's a beauty of connecting with people, learning from their stories and being inspired by their experiences.

Which brings me to this post. Before the 2025 Great Reno Balloon Race launch, I reached out to Chris and asked if he could answer some questions about piloting, so I could help everyone imagine this magical world a little more vividly.

I want to thank Chris’s parents for the wholesome chat, and Chris himself for taking the time to answer my questions and give us a peek into his world of hot air balloon love. I truly hope you enjoy this post.

Chris Casaceli's "Do What You Love" video is a personal vlog style reflection on his college journey and the uncertainties that followed graduation. In this piece, he delves into the challenges of navigating post college life, emphasizing the importance of pursuing one's passions despite the pressures of societal expectations. The video serves as both a personal narrative and a broader commentary on the pursuit of fulfillment over conventional success.

Chris's Story

Born & raised in Reno, Chris Casaceli has been attending The Great Reno Balloon Race for as long as he can remember. In fact, his very first race was in 1996, when he was just under a year old, tucked into a Snuggle baby carrier on his mom’s chest. Since that day, he hasn’t missed a single year.

Growing up, Chris became fascinated with the balloons, not just watching them but capturing them. He started taking photos every year and even made scrapbooks of the event so he could look back at all the colorful balloons filling the Reno sky. When he learned there was a photo contest that awarded the winner a balloon ride, he knew that was his chance. His parents weren’t going to buy him a ride, so he poured his energy into photography, spending years learning how to get that perfect shot.

Finally, in 2014, during his senior year of high school, Chris won the annual Great Reno Balloon Race contest that would help fulfill his dream. The following year, he took his very first balloon flight. That experience opened the door to something even bigger. He discovered that by crewing for balloon pilots, he could fly more often, and for free. So, he started crewing for local pilots, gaining hands on experience and becoming part of the ballooning family.

After years of dedication, Chris earned his private pilot certificate in 2024. Today, he’s a pilot, flying alongside the very balloons that first captured his imagination as a child.

Despite being overwhelmed with so much joy and awe, I managed to snap a picture of Chris's balloon from David Dunrud's Serendipity Balloon, an incredible pilot with over 30+ years of experience.  Huge shout out to my other incredible host pilots, Zoey Swenson (w/ Imagine) & Sheldon Grauberger (w/ Sriracha), from past media days.

The shape of Chris’s Phoenix balloon is more narrow and elongated, designed with a “sport” or “racer” style envelope. This sleeker design allows the balloon to heat and cool more quickly, giving the pilot sharper vertical control, a feature that’s especially valuable during competitions where precision really matters.

The Interview 

Check out Chris's crazy cool time lapse video of the 

2018 Great Reno Balloon Races.

1. What do you see from up there that people on the ground will never experience the same way?

I think the biggest difference is that, at any given moment, you are standing in the basket at a position in time and space where, under normal limitations of physics, you have absolutely no business being 😂. And as the flight unfolds, your position is constantly changing as the wind pushes you. So, you get this ephemeral perspective of the world, from a variety of vantage points where, on any given flight, no one in history has ever stood precisely in the same place, or seen the world from precisely that same perspective. There is a magic to all that with ballooning that nothing else in my experience can quite capture.

2. What’s one moment in the sky that completely changed how you see life on the ground?

I think the moment in the sky that was most impactful was the first time I flew to 10,000 feet MSL above the Carson Valley. I could see Lake Tahoe, the whole valley sprawled out in front of me, Carson City, Reno, and even Mono Lake to the south. Having that vantage point in the open air, seeing the place I grew up in, and being able to pinpoint all the little places where essentially my whole life had transpired, seeing all that at once… It made me feel a sense of awe, a sense of humility, and a sense of nostalgia. That was something really special for me.

3. What’s the strangest or most touching conversation you’ve overheard between passengers while floating?

I wasn’t the pilot on this flight, but I was in the basket once where a couple got engaged! And she did say yes haha. It was also their first ride, so they were already excited about it. That was probably the cutest, most touching moment I’ve witnessed in a hot air balloon!

4. What part of piloting is most misunderstood by the public?

I think the public really doesn’t understand the improvisational nature of ballooning with regard to navigation and selection of landing sites. People often think we are experiencing an emergency, or are in some kind of trouble because we’ve landed on a street, or in some kind of area that they wouldn’t expect an aircraft to have landed. The reality is that 99.99% of the time, we have very carefully and safely selected a given landing site based on what the wind directions were that morning, and our own margins of safety regarding the size of the landing site, access for the chase vehicle, and proximity to dangerous obstacles. So, if you see a balloon landing in a cul-de-sac or in a local park, chances are that was precisely where the pilot wanted to land, and they are executing normal flight operations!

5. What's the most memorable place you've landed and why?

This might not sound like the most interesting landing of all time, but it was sort of special for me. On my first solo flight, just before testing for my license, I was lucky enough to fly down into the Carson River near Minden, NV. twice. On the second time, I brought the balloon just above the water, and sort of floated along the water for a bit, following a couple of ducks down the river. Then I saw a rock island in front of me, so I decided to set the balloon down on this little island in the river for a minute. I just stood there for a bit, taking in the scenery, the ducks were looking at me like I was an alien or something, and the river and all the wildlife around me was just so peaceful. It was just so cool to me that I was able to be right there, in that unique spot, all by myself, and then I could just hit the burners again and pop back into the air whenever I wanted to. After a while, I did just that, and flew on. But yeah, that moment of tranquility sitting alone on that rock island was pretty special for me.

6. When you’re drifting with the wind, do you feel more like an adventurer or a passenger of nature?

I’d say I definitely feel more like an adventurer. I think that better captures the intentionality behind navigating a balloon. If you ever stop paying attention to what is going on, where you are going, and how the weather conditions are effecting your flight, you can get yourself into trouble very quickly in a balloon. So, I think “adventurer” better captures that degree of focus and intentionality that you have to employ to make sure you are doing what you need to do to get the balloon where you want to go as safely as possible. Of course, you always have those moments of joy and bewilderment built in, but staying focused and intentional about your flying has to come first.

7. What does being suspended between earth and sky teach you about balance?

I don’t know if it’s precisely by virtue of being suspended between earth and sky, but I think the biggest things that the physics of ballooning teaches you are patience, adaptability, and creative thinking. You can plan a flight as much as you want, and often you can get pretty close with where you will end up based on the wind data you have available, but no flight in a balloon can be completely planned from start to finish. You always have to be able to adapt to what the weather gives you on a given day, and be open to changing your flight plan at any given moment. You often have to be patient with the wind to get you where you need to go, and you need to be okay with things going differently than how you planned them. So yeah, adaptability, creativity, and patience are virtues that I think are really instilled by experience as a balloon pilot.

8. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever seen from above?

Sometimes you see some funny things in people’s back yards while looking for a landing site. Like, one time I remember seeing this pool that someone had made where they dug a hole in the ground, lined the hole with a big waterproof tarp, and just filled it with water. And then they had built this sort of funny, rudimentary diving board out of plywood and bricks as a counterweight. The whole thing looked like it had just been sitting there with water in it for about a year because the water was super murky and full of algae. So, that was kind of interesting. I appreciated their ingenuity though to give themselves a swimming pool on the cheap!

9. If you could take anyone in history on a balloon ride, who would it be and why?

If I could take one person from history on a balloon ride, it would probably be Neil Armstrong! As a kid, all I wanted to be in life (other than a balloon pilot) was an astronaut, and Neil was my hero. I’ve read so much about him, his life, and his career. Despite being one of the best test pilots in the world and flying nearly every experimental military aircraft in the 1950s and 60s, including the Saturn V rocket, and Apollo Lunar module, I don’t think he ever took the controls of a hot air balloon. It would be an absolute joy to see his face, and hear his curious comments from an aerospace engineering perspective about the design of the flight systems, and the unique mechanics of balloon flight. I’d love to give him some burner time, see what he thought of piloting a balloon, and watch him try to land the thing! Unfortunately, I’ll never have that chance. But it’s fun to imagine!

10. If you could create the perfect soundtrack for a hot air balloon ride, what songs would make the cut?

Okay, here is a playlist for you that I made on Spotify for a hot air balloon flight! It starts off with the Top Gun Theme for Launch, and then moves into a sort of LoFi, lounge kind of music for the rest of the flight:

Balloon Flight Playlist

on Spotify

Photo Credit: Nick Schab

Well, that wraps up this post, but most certainly not my friendship with Chris (& hopefully his parents too).  If you see me crewing for him in the future (or venturing inside of volcanoes, LOL), you'll exactly know why.  As this post drifts to a close, I hope it lifts your spirits as much as meeting Chris and his parents lifted mine.

NEWS

If you haven't heard yet, the 45th Great Reno Balloon Races is schedule to return on September 10-13, 2026.  Yes, that's one whole extra day on top of the usual three day event.  Hope to see you there.

***All opinions are my own. 

Categorized under "Stories"