Shakespeare’s Romantic Masterpiece
Romeo & Juliet

The Metropolitan Ballet, with support from Dancer's Edge, is pleased to announce the return of Romeo & Juliet, the most romantic love tragedy ever written. The ballet, set to Prokofiev’s Opus 64, was a rave sell-out at it’s premier in 2004 at The O’Shaughnessy with nearly 2000 audience members. Travel to Verona where you will see local luminary Patrick Scully reign over the village of Verona, the setting for Shakespeare’s famed romantic tale. Ballerina Mifa Ko returns to perform the role of Juliet with special guest Ramon Thielen (former principal of The Dance Theatre of Harlem) as her Romeo. Ballet of the Dolls’ Julia Tehven and Continental Ballet’s Pavel Homko return with their dramatic portrayals of Rosalind and Tybalt.

The Historic STATE THEATRE
February 10 ~ 11, 2007 - Saturday 8:00 PM, Sunday 2:00 PM

SCENE I: As day breaks, the townspeople meet in the market place and a quarrel develops between Tybalt, a nephew of Lord Capulet, and Romeo and his friends. The Capulets and Montagues are sworn enemies and a fight begins. The Lords Montague and Capulet join in the fray, which is stopped by the appearance of the Prince of Verona who commands the families to end their feud.

SCENE II: Juliet's Bedroom in the Capulet House. Juliet, playing with her nurse, is
interrupted by her mother, Lady Capulet, who tells Juliet that she is to be married to Paris. Juliet is unsure of her approaching maturity and shy with her intended groom.

SCENE III: Outside the Capulet House. Mercutio, Romeo, and Benvolio decide to go to the ball in pursuit of Rosaline. They disguise themselves as entertainers and don masks to avoid recognition.

SCENE IV: The Ballroom of the Capulet House. Romeo and his friends arrive at the height of the festivities. The guests watch Juliet dance. Romeo, enchanted joins her. Paris interrupts the duet and Tybalt recognizes Romeo. Mercutio tries to entertain and distract the guests as Romeo leaves quickly, but Tybalt is angry and chases the last intruder away.

SCENE I: The Market Place. Romeo can think only of Juliet and dreams of the day he will marry her. In the meantime, amidst the festivities, Juliet's nurse pushes through the crowds in search of Romeo to give him a letter from Juliet. He reads that Juliet has consented to be his wife.

SCENE II: Friar Laurence's Cell. Romeo arrives and asks Friar Laurence to marry them. Juliet arrives and the lovers are secretly married.

SCENE III: The Marketplace. The crowd is celebrating a feast day. Tybalt prompts a duel with Romeo but Romeo chooses not to fight. Mercutio takes up the challenge and fights against Romeo's attempts to pacify the pair. Mercutio is wounded and dies. Romeo is enraged by Tybalt's braggart air and takes up Mercutio's sword and kills Tybalt. Lady Capulet comes to grieve over the body of Tybalt and Romeo knows he is banished from Verona.

SCENE IV: Juliet's Bedroom. Romeo and Juliet are together but Romeo must leave with the dawn. They dance a duet of farewell. Juliet's parents enter with Paris to make arrangements for the wedding to Paris. Juliet is distraught and refuses to marry Paris. Juliet rushes to see Friar Laurence.

SCENE V: Juliet's Bedroom. That evening, Juliet agrees to marry Paris. Her parents are delighted. Left alone, Juliet drinks the potion given to her by Friar Laurence. Her Bridesmaids, nurse, and parents find her the next morning apparently lifeless on her bed.

SCENE VI: The Capulet Family Crypt. Romeo, failing to receive the Friar's message, returns to Verona stunned by the news of Juliet's death. Disguised as a monk, he enters the crypt. Believing Juliet dead, Romeo drinks a vial of potion. Juliet awakens and, finding Romeo dead, stabs herself.