Guide for Teachers and Parents to Childsplay’s Production of

Romeo and Juliet We hope you find this guide helpful in preparing your students for an enjoyable and educational theatrical experience. Included you’ll find things to talk about before and after seeing the performance, classroom activities that deal with curriculum connections and education standards, and resource materials.

From the Director: What makes Romeo and Juliet, a historically well-liked play, so incredibly popular today? What is so compelling about a simple story of a young couple in love? What is it about a world in which two groups have hated each other for so long they have forgotten how it all began – that a Montague will kill a Capulet simply for being a Capulet? What is it about Romeo and Juliet Romeo and Juliet finding in each other a love so passionate, explosive and electrifying that it is worth dying for – and that this love not By William Shakespeare only consumes them, but the hatred in the world around them?

Perhaps it is just that we are able to see in them what is Edited by Adam Burke uppermost in our own minds. Shakespeare's Hamlet reminded

us that plays, after all, are merely mirrors for us to look into and Directed by Adam Burke see ourselves. I look at the reflection and see a world that is

filled with war, hatred and death. I see a society in which Scenic Design by Tom Burch children are caught in a web not of their own making and

destroyed by it. I see a world in which the sins of the fathers are Costume Design by Michelle Tesdall very much visited upon the heads of the young. It could be any

number of places in today's modern world but we will call it Lighting Design by Mike Eddy Verona.

Sound Design by Anthony Runfola In Verona, a young man named Romeo, as much in love as any

young man has ever been, falls in love with Juliet. She returns The Cast that love. According to their traditions, the lovers ought to hate each other. The fact that, on the contrary, they are so Actor 1 (Romeo et al)...... Michael Arbuckle passionately drawn together in mutual ecstasy bears witness Actor 2 (Juliet et al) ...... Jessica Blaszak from the outset to the strength of an emotion which not only Actor 3 (Mercutio et al) ...... Slade Hall neutralizes prejudice in their own minds, but continues to assert itself in opposition to the prejudices of their surroundings. This Actor 4 (Tybalt et al) ...... Cale Epps is no peaceful tenderness. It flashes forth like lightening at their Actor 5 (Nurse et al) ...... Debra K. Stevens first meeting and its violence, under the hapless circumstances, hurries these young souls straight to their tragic end. Herberger Theater Center’s Stage West, March/April, 2005

In spite of the world around them, Romeo and Juliet bite their thumb at family, friends and anyone else who dares stand in the This production way of their ill-fated destiny. Destiny written in the stars only is supported by: they can see. It’s heartening to imagine that in a world where everyone is looking down, a passionate young Romeo and Juliet are looking up at the stars. They look up and imagine a world where their love is right and accepted. They hope for a time With Additional Support From: when they can gaze tenderly into each other’s eyes and not be Arizona ArtShare persecuted by their family, friends or government. I wish for a Arizona Commission on the Arts world filled with Romeo and Juliets - a world full of people not Bashas’ afraid to love. I hope for a world full of people who bite their City of Tempe/Tempe Municipal Arts Commission thumb at the way things are and look towards the way things Doris Duke Charitable Foundation should be. I need to believe that a love exists that is the National Endowment for the Arts antithesis to prejudice and hatred. More than anything else, I Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture need to believe in Romeo and Juliet. The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Theatre Communications Group “For never was there a story of more woe Than this of Juliet and her Romeo” About Our Production: Day 2, Monday (Act II, Scene 3 – Day 4, Wednesday (Act IV, Childsplay’s production of Romeo Act III, Scene 4) Scene 4 – Act V, Scene 2) and Juliet is unique. There are Romeo asks Friar Laurence to Early on Wednesday morning, only 5 actors who tell the story, perform the marriage ceremony. Juliet’s seemingly lifeless body is each playing multiple characters Though initially reluctant, he discovered and she is placed in the (21 characters in all), often times finally agrees, hoping to reconcile family tomb. Because an outbreak changing costume and set pieces in the families, and marries Romeo of the plague prevents the Friar’s full view of the audience so as to and Juliet that afternoon. messenger from leaving Verona, never break the flow of the story. Meanwhile, Tybalt, Juliet’s cousin, Romeo now receives news of The script has been edited so the sends Romeo a challenge to a duel. Juliet’s death instead. Desperate, performance runs around 95 Romeo refuses to fight when Romeo buys poison from an minutes. Tybalt confronts him because apothecary and returns to Verona. they’re now related. However, Late that night, Romeo enters the Shakespeare’s language can be Mercutio, Romeo’s quick- Capulet tomb, but is confronted by challenging to adjust to so it’s tempered friend, intervenes and Paris, whom he fights and kills. important that the story and accepts the challenge. Romeo tries Still unaware that Juliet is in fact timeline are discussed before to part the other two as they fight, alive, Romeo takes the poison and coming to the theater. Having a but Mercutio is fatally wounded dies as Juliet begins to stir. Juliet grasp on the storyline will help under Romeo’s arm. To avenge then stabs herself with Romeo’s students to follow what’s Mercutio’s death, Romeo kills dagger. happening on stage. Tybalt and then flees. The Prince announces Romeo’s Day 5, Thursday (Act V, The Story: banishment for Tybalt’s murder. Scene 3) Day 1, Sunday (Act I, Scene 1– Romeo, in hiding at the Friar’s Friar Laurence arrives too late, Act II, Scene 2) cell, becomes hysterical at the closely followed by Capulet and As the play begins, a long-standing news of his sentence and tries to Montague, who demand a full blood feud between the Montague kill himself, but the Friar promises explanation of what has happened. and Capulet families continues to to make Romeo’s marriage to The Friar comes forward to disrupt the peace of Verona, a city Juliet public and gain the Prince’s explain the tragic sequence of in northern Italy. A brawl between pardon. Romeo and Juliet celebrate events. The deaths of Romeo and the servants of the feuding their wedding night before he Juliet finally bring the feud to an households prompts the Prince to leaves at dawn for Mantua. end as Montague and Capulet join threaten both sides to keep the hands in peace. peace on pain of death. Day 3, Tuesday (Act III, Scene 5 Benvolio advises his lovesick – Act IV, Scene 3) This is Part 1 of a two-part activity. Part 2 friend Romeo, (son of Montague), That morning, Juliet discovers that will be done after seeing the play. to abandon his unrequited love for her father has arranged for her to In small groups, consider the following Rosaline and seek another. marry Paris on Thursday. The behaviors. Talk about which of the That night, Capulet holds a masked Capulets, unaware that Juliet is behaviors is the most destructive and then rank the behaviors from 1-14, with 1 being ball to encourage a courtship grieving for Romeo’s exile rather between his daughter, Juliet, and the most serious. than Tybalt’s death, believe the Paris, a relative of the Prince. wedding will distract her from -Planning to trick someone Concealing their identities behind mourning. Distressed at the -Lying to parents masks, Romeo and Benvolio go to prospect of a false marriage and -Killing someone for revenge the ball, where Romeo and Juliet isolated from her family, Juliet -Advising someone to marry for money fall in love at first sight, but at the seeks advice from Friar Laurence, -Two families having a feud end of the evening discover their who offers her a sleeping potion to -Selling poison identities as members of the -Killing someone by mistake while fighting make her appear dead for 42 hours. -Swearing opposed families. On his way During this time, the Friar will home from the feast, Romeo -Killing someone in self-defense send a message to Romeo in -Committing suicide climbs into Capulet’s orchard to Mantua so that Romeo can return -Going to a party uninvited glimpse Juliet again. Juliet appears to Verona in time for Juliet to -Marrying against parents' wishes at her balcony, and the couple awake. Juliet returns home and -Giving the finger exchange vows of love, agreeing to agrees to marry Paris. Juliet takes -Starting a fight marry the next day. the potion that night. Compare your group’s answers with the other groups. Are they similar? Different? "My only love sprung from my only hate!" Discuss the behaviors that you seem to Juliet disagree on.

Things To Talk About and Do Part 2: Have your feelings changed -What if you could change the After the Performance: now that you’ve seen the play? ending of Romeo and Juliet? How Using the same small groups (or as a would you do it? What would Talk about love. Talk about the class) talk about the following behaviors happen differently? Write a different kinds of love observed in exhibited by characters in the play. Once detailed description of your new the play. (Love between friends, again, talk about which of the behaviors ending. romantic love, parent/child love, is the most destructive and then rank the -Choose a section of speech from unrequited love, etc.) How are behaviors from 1-14. Romeo and Juliet and translate it these different? -Friar Laurence planned a trick into modern day English, using

-Juliet lied to her parents words that you hear in every day Talk about hate. Hate is a -Romeo killed Tybalt life. powerful and negative emotion -Nurse advised Juliet to marry Paris -Write a letter to “Dear Abby” that is manifested in many ways. -Capulets and Montagues feud from the point of view of either What are some examples of hate -Apothecary sold poison Romeo or Juliet, asking for advice from the play? Compare the -Tybalt killed Mercutio on one of the conflicts that they examples from the play with hate -Mercutio cursed both families face in the play. Now, write a in the world today. -Romeo killed Paris response that offers them advice -Juliet committed suicide from your point of view. Talk about fate. -Romeo goes to Capulet's party uninvited Romeo and Juliet are described as -Romeo and Juliet married against their Movie Comparison: A 1950’s "a pair of star-cross'd lovers". In parent's wishes version of Romeo and Juliet is the Shakespeare’s time many people -Sampson bit his thumb at Abraham musical West Side Story. Watch believed that the positions of the -Tybalt started a fight with Rome the movie version of West Side stars and planets influenced events Story. Talk about the similarities and peoples' lives here on Earth. Compare these rankings with the and differences in the two stories. This is the basis of astrology. At behavior rankings you did before seeing What if Romeo and Juliet were set the moment when each of us was the performance. Are your rankings in another location or time (the born, the stars and planets were all similar or different to your first future, Northern Ireland, Iraq, aligned in a unique way. rankings? Do you feel that a particular today, etc.). Talk about the many According to astrology, that's what behavior was more acceptable during the ways the play could be adapted to makes each of us different. The period of the play than it would be various time periods and locations. stars do change in regular ways today? Has your attitude changed about with the seasons. Astrologers Character Collages: Choose a any of these behaviors? divide the year into 12 periods character from the play and create associated with the appearance of a collage using words and pictures certain constellations, or groups of from magazines and newspapers Improv Insults: In pairs, create stars, just like we have 12 months that describe the character and your own Shakespearean insults in a the year. These are the twelve his/her emotions. Display in your and use them in an improvisation. astrological signs. People born room. under a certain sign are believed to To find the insults, go to have some similar qualities. www.renfaire.com/Language/insul Star Drawings: Constellations Astrologers also believe that some ts.html. Now, create characters appear in the scenic design of signs are more compatible than (made up or from the play) and Romeo and Juliet. Choose a others--and so, two people can be decide on a conflict that causes constellation and use its formation "star-cross'd" if their signs are not them to insult each other. as a basis for a drawing (connect compatible. Rehearse your scene, making sure the dots and add details). it has a beginning, middle and end. What’s Your Sign?: Using the Now share with the class! Themes in Music: Try and find internet, research astrology. What themes from Romeo and Juliet in is your sign? Draw the symbol for Creative Writing Activities: the music you listen to today! your sign. See if you can find your -Essay: Choose a character (other Find an example, bring it to class birthstone and your star stone. than Romeo and Juliet) who had an and share it, explaining what the What other signs are you important role in the play. similar theme is. How does your compatible with? Compare your Describe and examine the music relate to the play? Think sign with a friend’s sign. Are you character’s decisions and how about themes like love, hate, compatible? he/she affected the outcome of the passion, parent and child play. relationships, etc. Romeo and Juliet Booklist Curriculum Keys: Prepared by Tim Wadham, Youth Services Coordinator for the Shakespeare Maricopa William Shakespeare and the Globe by Aliki County The Shakespeare Stealer, Shakespeare’s Scribe and Shakespeare’s Spy by Gary Library Blackwood King of Shadows by Susan Cooper District Shakespeare Stories by Leon Garfield Shakespeare: His Life and His World by Michael Rosen Bard of Avon: The Story of William Shakespeare by Diane Stanley Understanding Romeo and Juliet by Thomas Thrasher Shakespeare DK Eyewitness Books Poetry Shakespeare Bats Cleanup by Ron Koertge Family Feuds Sammy Keyes and the Curse of Moustache Mary by Wendelin Van Draanen The Coffin Quilt: The Feud Between the Hatfields and the McCoys Italy by Ann Rinaldi Italy by Sarah De Capua Dante’s Daughter by Kimberley Burton Heuston Shylock’s Daughter by Mirjam Pressler Elizabethan Period Italy by Jane Kohen Winter A Travel Guide to Shakespeare’s London by James Barter Black Swan by Farrukh Dhondy A Midsummer Night’s Dork by Carol Gorman Tragedy The Queen’s Progress: An Elizabethan Alphabet by Celeste Davidson Mannis Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse The Princess in the Pigpen by Jane Resh Thomas The Silent Boy by Lois Lowry

Hate/Prejudice/Bullying Romance The King’s Shadow by Elizabeth Alder Not Just a Summer Crush by C. S. Adler Burger Wuss by M. T. Anderson Micheal Wait for Me by Patricia Calvert Tangerine by Edward Bloor Crush: Stories by Ellen Conford The Giver by Lois Lowry Owl in Love by Patrice Kindl Shooter by Walter Dean Myers You Don’t Know Me by David Klass Dear God, Help!!! Love, Earl by Barbara Park Gossip Times Three by Amy Goldman Koss Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson Anastasia Has the Answers by Lois Lowry Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli Under the Watson’s Porch by Susan Shreve Shredderman: Secret Identity by Wendelin Van Draanen Popularity Contest by Rachel Vail The Amazing and Death-Defying Diary of Eugene Dingman by Paul Zindel Interesting Web Sites: About Childsplay: http://www.webenglishteacher.com/shakespeare.html Childsplay is a non-profit professional theatre company of adult actors, -Shakespeare’s Language performing for young audiences and families. http://www.field-trips.org/lit/shake/index.htm Our Mission is to create theatre so strikingly original in form, content or both, that it instills in young people an enduring awe, love and respect -Elizabethan England for the medium, thus preserving imagination and wonder, the hallmarks www.folger.edu/education/teaching.htm of childhood, which are the keys to the future. -Folger’s site on teaching Shakespeare We love to hear from our audience members! http://shakespeare.palomar.edu/ Send letters, questions or reviews to: Childsplay, Inc. -all about Shakespeare, the man PO Box 517 www.renfaire.com/Language/insults.html Tempe, AZ 85280 -create your own Shakespearean insults! Call us at 480-350-8101 or 1-800-583-7831 www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/romeojuliet www.clicknotes.com/romeo/welcome.html Email us at: [email protected] Web Site: www.childsplayaz.org - resources for teaching R & J in class Childsplay’s Student Activity Guide for Romeo and Juliet

Thank you for being a part of the audience for Childsplay’s production of Romeo and Juliet. Here are some things to think about and some activities to do now that you’ve seen the show!

*The love between Romeo and Juliet is romantic love. What other kinds of love can people experience?

*The Capulets and the Montagues have a long-standing feud between them. Can you think of an example of Romeo and Juliet someone hating someone else just because they are from a particular family? What are other reasons that people By William Shakespeare develop hatreds? What can we do to eliminate hatred in

Edited by Adam Burke the world?

Directed by Adam Burke *Both Romeo and Juliet make choices that result in particular consequences. What are examples from the Scenic Design by Tom Burch play of choices that result in positive consequences? Which choices result in negative consequences? If you Costume Design by Michelle Tesdall could offer advice to either Romeo or Juliet that would change the outcome of the play, what would that advice Lighting Design by Mike Eddy be?

Sound Design by Anthony Runfola So, you wanna be a actor???

Stage Managers: Gretchen Schaefer & Sam Ries Then check out the Childsplay Academy! Now accepting enrollment for summer workshops. Classes begin June 6! The Cast Call 480.350.8119 or go to www.childsplayaz.org for more information! Actor 1 (Romeo/Ensemble). . . . . Michael Arbuckle Actor 2 (Juliet/Ensemble) ...... Jessica Blaszak About Childsplay: Actor 3 (Mercutio/Ensemble) ...... Slade Hall Actor 4 (Tybalt/Ensemble) ...... Cale Epps Childsplay is a non-profit professional theatre Actor 5 (Nurse/Ensemble) ...... Debra K. Stevens company of adult actors, performing for young audiences and families. Herberger Theater Center’s Stage West, March/April, 2005

Our Mission is to create theatre so strikingly original This production in form, content or both, that it instills in young people is supported by: an enduring awe, love and respect for the medium, thus preserving imagination and wonder, the hallmarks of childhood, which are the keys to the future. With Additional Support From: Arizona ArtShare We love to hear from our audience members! Arizona Commission on the Arts Bashas’ Send letters, questions or reviews to: City of Tempe/Tempe Municipal Arts Commission Childsplay, Inc. Doris Duke Charitable Foundation PO Box 517 National Endowment for the Arts Tempe, AZ 85280 Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture Call us at 480-350-8101 or 1-800-583-7831 The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

Theatre Communications Group Email us at: [email protected] Web Site: www.childsplayaz.org

H T U E Q Q S J R B H S W J F Find the following words in the puzzle at left. Words H G E G S W R M O E H T W O F can be vertical, horizontal, diagonal, forwards or E M A I F O E A M N H A S Q Y backwards! U E O I L R R Z E V T C O K A

W S G N C U W D O O C N G W A

O H L U T S J T E L U P A C N

T Z T Y B A L T Y I H L G D O ANON E I Q K V V G P N O N A S I R DAGGER BENVOLIO FIGHT O D J O R V H U F Y O X U N E CAPULET HATE E D T D J L F C E S E Z O I V JULIET LOVE S H A K E S P E A R E S H R E MERCUTIO MONTAGUE N M H G N Y Q D K I I O T V G POISON ROMEO ROSE H A T E G R Y T B O R B O G Y SHAKESPEARE THOU Q H N S Y A U Y P W N L C B O TYBALT VERONA P W Y L P D R R C K O E M T F

Shakespearean Insults!!! Column #1 Column #2 Column #3 beslubbering beef-witted barnicle botless beetle-headed bladder Combine, in order, one word from clouted clay-brained bumbailey each column at left. Preface it with currish crook-pated clack-dish “thou” and you’ve created your own dankish dismal-dreaming clotpole dissembling dizzy-eyed coxcomb Shakespearean insult! Try them out errant dread-bolted death-token with your friends and family! frothy fen-sucked flirt-gill gleeking flap-mouthed foot-licker gorbellied folly-fallen giglet “Thou frothy, spur- impertinent fool-born gudgeon galled clack-dish!” jarring guts-griping harpy logerheaded half-faced hedge-pig lumpish hasty-witted horn-beast mammering hedge-born hugger-mugger mewling idle-headed lewdster rank onion-eyed minnow saucy reeling-ripe nut-hook “Thou botless, spleeny rough-hewn pigeon-egg onion-eyed tottering shard-borne pumpion harpy!” vain spur-galled scut villainous tardy-gaited strumpet warped tickle-brained varlot wayward toad-spotted vassal