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 |
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|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
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|
Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
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
A poetic or formal farewell often used in classical and period drama to underscore emotion or finality.
Anon' is an archaic English term meaning “soon” or “shortly.” It is often encountered in the dialogue of English Renaissance plays such as those by Shakespeare.
A recurring character type or symbol representing universal patterns in storytelling, often used in classical and contemporary theatre.
A poetic or dramatic listing of a person's attributes or characteristics, often used to praise or mock.
To scold or rebuke, frequently appearing in English Renaissance drama.
Relating to the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, marked by flourishing English drama and playwrights like Shakespeare and Marlowe.
Used in classical texts to describe beauty or fairness; also used in dialogue to suggest sincerity or justice.
A large format publication of plays, including the First Folio of Shakespeare, significant to theatre history.
An old-fashioned word meaning 'from this point forward,' used in dramatic texts. This term plays a vital role in understanding theatrical structure and is commonly encountered in stagecraft or performance settings.
A poetic meter consisting of five iambs per line, widely used in English Renaissance drama by playwrights like Shakespeare.
A servant or deceitful man, often used in Shakespearean plays as a term of insult or social rank. This archetype is common in comedic and villainous roles in English Renaissance drama, revealing class tensions and dramatic contrasts.
A uniform worn by servants or soldiers, often used in historical plays to signify rank or allegiance. Theatrical livery helps establish period accuracy and character identity.
A literary term describing lovers doomed by fate, made famous by Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet'.
A dramatic genre involving serious themes and the downfall of a protagonist, often evoking catharsis from the audience.
An archaic term meaning 'from where,' frequently used in early English plays to indicate origin or direction.
An old English word meaning 'why,' famously used in Shakespeare’s 'Romeo and Juliet' to express inquiry, not location.
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