William Shakespeare'sRomeo & Juliet |
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| Presented by the Out of the Box Players | ||
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Michael McGraw |
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Amaya Davis Mayme Duemchen |
Lylah Davis Mark Eddy |
Leila De Folo Julia Kulyk |
Director’s Note
I was first introduced to Romeo & Juliet by my middle school theatre teacher, Mrs. Grochow. Not long after that, Baz Luhrmann’s film adaptation came out, and like so many people my age, I fell completely in love with it. That version made Shakespeare feel immediate, emotional, and unmistakably present. From that moment on, Romeo & Juliet became a dream show for me, one I hoped to perform in someday and eventually direct. I’m incredibly grateful to finally have the chance to bring it to life today.
In our modern world, it’s easy to dismiss Romeo & Juliet as a story about two impulsive teenagers making reckless choices. But I’ve always seen it as something deeper, and sadly more familiar. To me, this is a story about two young people caught in the middle of a conflict they didn’t create and can’t escape. They inherit a world shaped by division, loyalty, and anger long before they ever meet, and they are expected to navigate it without question.
There’s a line from Mara Leveritt’s Devil’s Knot that stuck with me throughout our rehearsal process: “Children don’t write their own tragedies. That is the work of adults.” That idea feels especially relevant today. Romeo and Juliet are not doomed because they fall in love. They are doomed because the adults and systems around them refuse to let go of the past. Their love becomes an act of rebellion in a world that thrives on conflict.
By placing this production in a modern context, my hope is that the story feels less like a distant classic and more like a reflection of the world we recognize, one where old grudges are inherited, lines are drawn early, and young people are left to deal with the consequences.
Thank you for being here and for sharing this story with us.
— Michael McGraw, Director
List of Scenes
ACT ONE
(Originally Act 1 Scene 1 - Act 3 Scene 1)
PROLOGUE
SCENE 1 - Verona. Sunday morning. A public place.
SCENE 2 - Verona. Sunday afternoon. A sunlit street.
SCENE 3 - Verona. Early Sunday evening. A room in Capulet's house.
SCENE 4 - Verona. Sunday evening. A lively street.
SCENE 5 - Verona. Sunday evening. Inside Capulet's house.
SCENE 6 - Verona. Late Sunday evening. Outside Capulet's house.
SCENE 7 - Verona. Late Sunday evening. Capulet's orchard.
SCENE 8 - Verona. Early Monday. Father Lawrence's cell.
SCENE 9 - Verona. Late Monday morning. A public square.
SCENE 10 - Verona. Early Monday afternoon. Capulet's orchard.
SCENE 11 - Verona. Monday afternoon. Father Lawrence's cell.
SCENE 12 - Verona. Monday afternoon. A street.
ACT TWO
(Originally Act 3 Scene 2 - Act 5 Scene 3)
SCENE 1 - Verona. Late Monday afternoon. Capulet's orchard.
SCENE 2 - Verona. Monday evening. Father Lawrence's cell.
SCENE 3 - Verona. Late Monday evening. A room in Capulet's house.
SCENE 4 - Verona. Tuesday morning. Juliet's chamber.
SCENE 5 - Verona. Tuesday afternoon. Father Lawrence's cell.
SCENE 6 - Verona. Tuesday evening. A hall in Capulet's house.
SCENE 7 - Verona. Late Tuesday evening. Juliet's chamber.
SCENE 8 - Verona. Wednesday morning. Juliet's chamber.
SCENE 9 - Mantua. Thursday afternoon. A street.
SCENE 10 - Verona. Thursday evening. Father Lawrence's cell.
SCENE 11 - Verona. Late Thursday evening. The churchyard.
