Explore this Show
Overview
Synopsis
Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is a love story for the ages. The Capulet and Montague households have been embroiled in a bloody fight for as long as anyone in Verona, Italy can remember. The death toll is mounting, and it seems that the best thing anyone can do is keep the two sides as far from each other as possible. But when young Romeo Montague crashes the Capulet ball, he falls head-over-heels in love with young Juliet Capulet – and she falls just as in love with him. What ensues is one of the most romantic and devastating love stories in the theatrical canon.
Show Information
- Book
- William Shakespeare
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 5
- First Produced
- 1595
- Genres
- Drama, Romance
- Settings
- Multiple Settings, Period
- Time & Place
- verona, italy - time unspecified
- Cast Size
- large
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, High School, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Early Teen, Late Teen, Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult, Elderly Characters
Context
Romeo and Juliet was one of Shakespeare’s most popular plays both while he was alive and after his death. Along with Hamlet it now ranks as one of his most frequently performed plays. It is believed that Shakespeare wrote it somewhere between 1591 and 1595, with the first published version printed in 1597. The play shares stylistic qualities with A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which was written around the same time. The first published versions of the play at the end of sixteenth century were
to read the context for Romeo and Juliet and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
Romeo and Juliet opens with the traditional Shakespearian Chorus introducing two feuding families in Verona: the Capulets and the Montagues. It is the height of summer, and the young, hot-headed men of each family meet for a public brawl, forcing Prince Escalus, the Prince of Verona, to intercede. Unless the two families can co-exist peacefully, he threatens to banish them from the kingdom.
Lord Capulet announces a family feast, at which he wants to introduce his young
to read the plot for Romeo and Juliet and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Either Gender |
|
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Spoken |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
Farewell
Soon
A recurring symbol or idea in literature, art, or culture.
A description or declaration; a display on a coat-of-arms
Scorn, rebuke, or reprove
Referring to life in England under the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, 1558-1603.
Beautiful
A type of printing in which four pages of text are printed on one sheet (two per side), and then folded to make four total pages. This was a popular method for printing plays in the Elizabethan period.
From now on
A type of verse with ten syllables per line and syllables alternating between unstressed and stressed beats.
A scoundrel; a young man or boy; a servant
Special clothing or costume
Describes lovers who cannot be together, usually for some reason outside of their control.
A play that centers around the downfall of the main character through tragic actions and events.
From where
Archaic form of "why"
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Quote Analysis
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
