William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet: An Actor's Perspective

Overview

Have you ever wanted to read Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet? This course will provide a guided reading of the script and expose you to the perspectives of actors who've performed in the play. It primarily consists of interviews with 14 professional actors who have participated in at least one production of Romeo & Juliet somewhere in the US, at theaters and Shakespeare festivals including the American Shakespeare Center, American Players Theatre, and the Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey, and Utah Shakespeare Festivals. In completing this course, learners will be able to describe the plot of Romeo & Juliet, identify major characters and themes, analyze and interpret heightened text, and consider multiple theatrical approaches to the play. This course strives to be of interest to multiple audiences, but we think it may particularly appeal to... * Shakespeare enthusiasts and the Shakespeare curious in all walks of life * Actors, theater practitioners, and teachers of Shakespeare everywhere * Secondary school and college students interested in expanding their studies of Shakespeare * Interested readers with little or no familiarity with Shakespeare Logo image courtesy of https://picryl.com/media/romeo-and-juliet-12

Syllabus

Act 1: Introductions

In this module, you will be introduced to the course and some of the major characters in the play. You’ll hear perspectives on the major events in Act 1, including the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues, Romeo’s lovesickness for Rosaline, the marriage being planned for Juliet and Paris, and Capulet’s party, where Romeo and Juliet meet for the first time.

Act 2: The Courtship

In this module, you’ll hear perspectives on the major events in Act 2, including the whirlwind courtship and secret marriage of Romeo & Juliet, and the increasing involvement of people close to them, including Mercutio, Benvolio, Friar Lawrence and the Nurse.

Act 3: The Fight

In this module, you’ll hear perspectives on the major events in Act 3, where the romantic comedy begins to pivot towards tragedy. Our actors discuss the fights that take place in this act as well as the aftermath of those fights.

Act 4: The Last Hope

In this module, you’ll hear perspectives on the major events in Act 4, including the Capulets planning a wedding for Juliet and Paris, and Romeo, Juliet and the Friar planning something very different.

Act 5: The Tragedy

In this concluding module, our actors discuss the final events of this remarkable play, and offer personal takeaways from having performed in it, as well as reflections on why this play is still so widely read and performed today, over 400 years after it was written.