The Bard's works are all about language, and at Chicago Shakespeare Theater this doesn't always mean the King's English.

In 2006, artistic director Barbara Gaines brought to town the Chekhov International Theatre Festival's Russian-language production of "Twelfth Night," and in the upcoming season a British production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" performed in eight languages debuts.

Chicago Shakespeare also is creating new work of its own in this vein with "Romeo y Julieta," a bilingual adaptation of one of Shakespeare's greatest works, which was commissioned from playwright Karen Zacarias.

"We believe that English should not hold a monopoly on Shakespeare's work," said Martin Miller, a Chicago Shakespeare Arts Leadership Fellow and the play's producer. "A different language allows you to see a story you thought you knew in a totally different way."

"Romeo y Julieta" has been a year in the making and will receive two staged readings this weekend. Stage and screen actress Elizabeth Pena will portray Lady Capulet, Julieta's mother.

Choosing "Romeo and Juliet" as the play to adapt was an easy decision.

"It's a greatest hit, common cultural capital, when it comes to Shakespeare," Miller said.

Director Henry Godinez re-imagines the story of two lovers on opposite sides of a divided city within a modern Latino community.

Chances are if William Shakespeare were sitting in on rehearsal's for "Romeo y Julieta," he'd be mighty intrigued with the wordplay. Zacarias laughs at the idea and admits she was "slightly overwhelmed" by the prospect of recasting Shakespeare in Spanglish. (She is working from a Spanish translation by Manuel Angel Conejero.)

"Playwrights like me don't often get to work with Shakespeare," Zacarias said. "So something like this can make you feel like you're playing with fire. It's daunting and exciting."

Chicago Shakespeare made the decision to step outside of its Navy Pier home for "Romeo y Julieta" in the 500-seat theater at Little Village Lawndale High School.

"What was most important for us was making sure that members of the Latino community could see the play within their neighborhood," Miller said. "Chicago Shakespeare is a public trust for all of Chicago and this is a step toward learning how to speak meaningfully to a new audience."

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• Performances of "Romeo y Julieta" are at 7 tonight and Saturday at the Little Village Lawndale High School, 3120 S. Kostner. Admission is free. For reservations, call (312) 595-5460.