More About Our Production
Does Romeo and Juliet need an introduction? It’s actually a simple story: two young lovers defy an “ancient grudge” between their two families and secretly marry. Yet, its impact on the world is so complex and profound. Perhaps it is because Romeo tells us at the beginning of the play, “Here’s much to do with hate, but more with love.”
Via contemporary music, costumes and set, we will focus on the ”problem of love”. Passionate, idealized, destructive, healing and transformative - love. What happens when that bright ecstatic love shines its light on the class, social, age and gender divisions within this story? And why do the characters constantly take sides and allow these divisions to torment the people that they love? This play deals with the emotional and social concerns of young people and their hotheaded refusals to obey coupled with unforeseeable accidents of timing. Sound familiar? Doesn’t this story of Juliet and her Romeo remind us that we all carry “problems of love” in our own lives?
Oh, the power of Shakespeare’s language! Our cast will constantly play with Shakespeare’s beautiful words of love, specifically how they force characters into action. How they insult each other, confess, conjure, curse, banish, how they make contracts, how they make vows. Love’s urgency will propel characters to dance with poetry, fight with poetry and even die with poetry. No wonder, even after more than 400 hundred years, Romeo and Juliet remains unforgettably fresh and relevant.
YOUNG SHAKESPEARE’S ROMEO AND JULIET
The iconic love story that has rocked the ages!
Do you love Shakespeare? Do you love Acting? Music? Dancing?
Stage Combat? Do you love being behind the scenes?
Costumes? Lighting? Sound? Or Fly Rail?
Would you Love to learn more about any of these things?
* * * * *
Austin Shakespeare is seeking interested teens to audition for roles and interview for technical positions for our Summer 2027 production.
Live Auditions - March 6, 2027. 3-4:30pm. Austin’s Scottish Rite Theatre
Video Audition Submissions Accepted: March 1 - May 1, 2027.
Technical Position Interviews Start: March 1, 2027.
Rehearsals start May 17, 2027.
Seven Performances run June 18-27, 2027.
Venue: Austin's Beautiful and Historic Scottish Rite Theatre.
To receive Audition Details and Interview Requirements submit your email request today.
The Young Shakespeare program is an intensive summer performance group for students aged 13-19, but we have had younger, experienced students join us in the past.
The show is directed by Austin Shakespeare professional directors and students receive training in Shakespeare performance. Costumes, sets and lighting are professionally designed. Young Shakespeare is a tuition-based program, with reasonable rates.
“Each summer we are amazed by the young talent that develops in this professional setting. Teens transform together through six weeks of training in Shakespeare text analysis, voice and diction, movement.”
− Nancy Owens, Former Co-Director Young Shakespeare
The Following Roles Are Open to Actors, Musicians, Dancers Ages 13-19
Romeo Montegue: 16, attractive, intelligent, sensitive, impulsive and immature. Yet his idealism and passion make him extremely likable. Despite the violence around him, his only interest is love, Goes to extremes to prove the seriousness of his feelings. Keeps Shawn Mendes on his repeat playlist.
Juliet Capulet: 14, Whip-smart, instinctive. A captivating and charming girl sheltered by her family. Her life explodes when sparks fly upon meeting Romeo! Trapped by her age, gender and social standing, she has none of the freedom Romeo has to roam the city, climb walls or fight in the streets to release her emotions. What will she do for love?
Friar Lawrence: A holy man, 30’s-50’s, friend to both Romeo and Juliet. Kind, civic-minded, a proponent of moderation, and always ready with a plan. An avid gardener, botanist and naturalist - a modern-day Henry David Thoreau.
Mercutio: 20-24, a relative of Escalus, and Romeo’s close friend. Eccentric, enjoys having a good time, can be quite hotheaded. Courageous in his loyalty to Romeo. A poet.
Benvolio: 18-20, Romeo’s cousin and thoughtful friend. Genuinely wants to stop the violence of the feud in public places, though Mercutio accuses them of having a nasty temper in private. Secretly in love with Romeo?
The Nurse: 30’s-50’s, Juliet's nanny, faithful confidante and loyal helper. Closer to Juliet than her mother; she actually nursed baby Juliet. Mourns her own lost daughter and husband. Comical, talkative and playful. Enjoys the occasional dirty joke.
Tybalt: 16-18, a Capulet, Juliet’s cousin. Despises all Montagues. Proud, aggressive, violent, and quick to fight. Trained with weapons, they are to be feared. Supremely aware of upper class “courtesies”. Vain. A Fashionista.
Lord Capulet: 50’s, A patriarch in every sense, commands respect and propriety. Father of Juliet, husband of Lady Capulet. Enemy, for unexplained reasons, of Lord Montague. Loves Juliet but despite her thoughts or feelings, is convinced that what is best for her is a “good” match with Paris. An anger addict.
Lady Capulet: 30’s, Juliet’s mother, Lord Capulet’s wife. Unsure of her own mothering capabilities, she relies on the Nurse for moral support and common sense. Caught in repeating the cycle of her own young marriage, she agrees that Juliet should marry Paris.
Lord Montague: 50’s, Romeo’s father, patriarch of the Montagues and bitter enemy of Capulet. A man’s man, very frustrated that Romeo is too sensitive and should “man up”.
Lady Montague: 30’s, Romeo’s mother, Montague’s wife. What else is behind that aristocratic facade?
Paris: 20’s, A relative of Escalus, Capulets’ preferred suitor of Juliet. Handsome, young and very wealthy. Privileged and entitled?
Escalus: 40’s, Sindaco/Mayor of Verona, related to both Mercutio and Paris. Frustrated by continued violence on city streets, desires peace at all costs. A voice of reason, but ignored until it is too late.
Chorus of Musicians, Dancers, Narrators and Individual Characters: Friar John, Balthasar, Sampson, Gregory, Abraham, Apothecary, Rosaline, Peter
The Following Positions Are Open to Backstage Technicians Ages 13-19
Assistant Stage Manager
Wardrobe Assistant/Costume Quick Change
Light Board Op/Assistant to Lighting Designer
Sound Board Op
Fly Rail Operator