by William Shakespeare
Adapted by J.D. Newman
This inclusive two-hour adaptation offers nine substantial female roles and eight solid male roles within an Italian Renaissance setting. Rosaline appears as an integral character, a female Mercutio mixes it up with the boys, Mistress Sampson and Mistress Gregory replace their slain husbands, and the widowed Lady Montague raises her family’s sword. The original production at Utah Valley University featured an actor who is Deaf in the role of the Nurse, who communicates in ASL with different characters in different ways in order to keep her secrets. A pantomime epilogue, in place of a curtain call, shows Capulets and Montagues in moments of reconciliation after the death their loved ones. The play treats teen suicide as an authentic reality, rather than as a melodramatic device, and invites audiences to contemplate how needless death might have been prevented. Order 3382
PLAY DETAILS:
- CAST OF CHARACTERS: (9F, 8M)
- MALE:
- LORD CAPULET, head of a Veronian family, in feud with the Montagues, Juliet’s father
- ROMEO, son of Lady Montague
- PARIS, a young Nobleman, kinsman to the Prince, suitor to Juliet
- BENVOLIO, nephew to Montague and friend to Romeo
- TYBALT, nephew to Lady Capulet
- FRIAR LAWRENCE, a Franciscan
- BALTHASAR, servant to the Montagues
- PETER, servant to Juliet’s Nurse
- FEMALE:
- ESCALUS, Prince of Verona, same actor may play APOTHOCARY
- MERCUTIO, kinsman to the Prince, and friend to Romeo
- LADY MONTAGUE, head of a Veronian family in feud with the Capulets, mother of Romeo
- LADY CAPULET, wife of Capulet, mother of Juliet
- JULIET, daughter to Capulet, beloved of Romeo
- ROSALINE, first beloved of Romeo
- NURSE to Juliet. In the first production of this adaptation, the actor playing NURSE was Deaf.
- MISTRESS SAMPSON, servant to Capulet
- MISTRESS GREGORY, servant to Capulet
- About 2 hours
- Costumes — classical or contemporary
- Setting — simple stylized or classical
- Order # 3382
Available for ALL producing groups.
REVIEWS:
COMING
PERUSAL MATERIALS
- Perusal Pages File Available here: COMING (The PDF file contains the first 2 1/2 acts of the 5-act play along with all background information.
- EMAIL us for rights and information. Be sure to give us anticipated performance dates and the address of your group and, if different, your theatre. Please also include a contact name and phone number.
PURCHASING REHEARSAL MATERIALS:
(Any PDF purchased will be emailed to your email address — if you need to provide that to us (not the one on your PayPal account?), email us. CDs will be mailed to a snail mail address) Before we ship any rehearsal material we will need your performance dates, the name of your organization and the theatre where you will perform.
- Script in PDF format– Order #3182a : $25 (plus shipping and handling)
- 1st Performance Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #3182d : $65
- 2nd Performance Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #3182e : $50
- Professional Royalties will be quoted upon application
PRODUCTIONS:
- Utah Valley University — November, 2023
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PHOTO CREDIT: Suzy O Photography
BILLING CREDITS
The following is how the credits should read in all programs, posters, fliers, handbills and other promotional advertising for the show:
Romeo & Juliet
by William Shakespeare
Adapted and Edited by
J. D. Newman
NOTE: The names of the Playwright(s), Composer, Lyricist, and Bookwriter shall be equal in size, type, coloring, boldness, and prominence. No billing shall appear in type larger or more prominent than the billing to the Authors except for the title of the play.
ALSO:
THIS NOTICE MUST APPEAR IN ALL PROGRAMS, ON ALL POSTERS AND PUBLICITY MATERIALS AND INTERNET ADVERTISING/WEBPAGES FOR THE PLAY:
“Romeo and Juliet is presented through special arrangement with Premiére Theatrical Licensing on behalf of Leicester Bay Theatricals. All authorized materials are also supplied by LBT, www.leicesterbaytheatricals.com”
from the Leicester Bay’s Shakespeare Plays
