Romeo and Juliet– Final ProjectEnglish I

Directions:

Work as part of an acting company to re-stage a scene and perform it for the class. You must alter the staging to make the scene unique to your group by setting it in another time and place. Suggestions include: Hollywood today, mob ridden New York or Chicago, the 80’s, or any time & place you choose. Your goal is to work with and present the language so it not only highlights key details of your scene, but also so it is appropriate to that setting & time. In order to prepare for your performance, you will create a promptbook.

Suggested Scenes:

1. 1.5 42-90 (3)- Romeo, Tybalt, Capulet “A Hall in Capulet’s House”

2. 1.5.91-143 (3 people)- Romeo, Juliet, Nurse “Holy Palmers Kiss”

3. 2.2 1-56 (2 people) Romeo and Juliet -“Soliloquies- Balcony Scene”

4. 2.2 56-135 (2 people) Romeo and Juliet (omit nurse part)- “Private Balcony Scene”

5. 2.2 135-189 (3 people) Romeo, Juliet, and nurse- “Nurse Interrupts Balcony Scene”

6. 3.1 1-131 (4 people)- Benvolio, Mercutio, Tybalt, Romeo- “The Fight Scene”

7.3.2 1-34 (1 person)- Juliet-soliloquy- “Juliet Waits & Dreams of Night”

8.3.5 1-125(4 people) Juliet, Romeo, Nurse, Lady Capulet- “Marriage Talk”

9. 3.5 126-242 (4 people)- Juliet, Nurse, Lady Capulet, Lord Capulet- “Angry Father-Juliet is Trapped”

10.4.1 44-126 (2 people)- Friar Lawrence, Juliet “Potion in Friar Lawrence’s cell”

11. 4.2 16-51 (3 people)- Lady Capulet, Capulet, Juliet “Juliet Fakes Loyalty”

12.5.3 75-120 (1 people)- Romeo “With a kiss Romeo dies”

13. 5. 3.138-169 (3 people)- Juliet, Friar, Balthasar (watchman is extra) “Oh Happy Dagger”

14. 5.3.233- 274 (1 person) Friar “Friar Tells All”

Promptbook Requirements: Each Company will turn in a collection of notes outlining the various elements of the production process. This is due at the start of class on the day of your performance. A complete promptbook includes the following items:

  1. A cover page- Include your names, your characters’ names, the scene #, an appropriate title for your scene, and a picture that hints at your setting.
  1. The company report (1 per company)- This is an overview of your scene’s importance to the play as a whole. The importance of your scene should not change when you translate the language for your genre. This should be written in the 3rd person and should be 1-2 pages long. Show off your paragraphing skills as you respond to the following questions:
  • What happens in your scene? Summarize the basic events.
  • What are the key purposes of your scene? Why is the scene included in the play?
  • What should the audience be feeling as they watch it?
  • What messages about loyalty are conveyed in this scene?
  • How will you change the setting or time period of your scene?
  • How does your time period and setting impact the meaning of the text?
  1. Character reports (1 per character)- This report should explain who your character is, what his/her role is in the scene, his/her actions, what he/she is thinking, etc. You are each individually responsible for your character report. This should be 1 page. Show off your paragraphing skills as you respond to the following questions:
  • What does your character want during this scene? What motivates your character?
  • What obstacles stand in your character’s way and what happens when they confront those obstacles?
  • What is the character thinking during this scene? How does he/she react to the other characters and events?
  • Who is your character loyal to? Who is loyal to your character? What evidence supports this?
  • What is your character’s most important line and why (line must come from your scene).
  1. Character performance comparison (1 per character) Research on how other actors and directors have presented your character will help you to consider the many ways you might choose to act the role. This should be 1 page. Show off your paragraphing skills as you respond to the following questions:
  • Which two versions of the scene did you watch? (You can find clips on the class website at or on youtube)
  • For the first version, what do you notice? Which words or phrases were emphasized? How were they emphasized (facial expressions, gestures, tone, volume, etc)? What was the effect of the emphasis? (For example, did the character seem to have certain emotions or motivations or personality traits because of the emphasis?)
  • For the second version, what do you notice? Which words or phrases were emphasized? How were they emphasized (facial expressions, gestures, tone, volume, etc)? What was the effect of the emphasis? (For example, did the character seem to have certain emotions or motivations or personality traits because of the emphasis?)
  • Which version did you prefer and why?

5.Costume Drawing/Justification(1 per character) – Design and justify a costume that connects to your character and theme. This should be 1 page. Show off your paragraphing skills as you respond to the following:

Draw and label your character’s costume (this should be in color). Think about and explain the significance of specific colors, styles, length of skirts, type of jewelry, etc. Every detail of your character’s costume should be intentional and explained.

  • How does your character’s costume connect to the setting or time your group has chosen?
  • How does your character’s costume illustrate his/her personality or motivations?
  • How does your character's costume illustrate his/her loyalties?
  • Explain all symbolism connected to your costume, including colors.
  1. Production Notes(1 per group)
  2. Paste the lines on the left side of blank sheets of paper.
  3. Use the right side of the paper for your translation, notes, and sketches. You cannot cut any lines from your scene, unless it's from an extra character. You must translate the lines so that they fit your time period and setting, but the translation must not change the meaning.
  4. Mark your text! Underline words you want to emphasize, draw faces in the margin to illustrate tone or your feeling during that line, and include notes about how you might act out certain parts of your scene.
  5. I should be able to follow these notes as if they were a script so please spend time making them detailed and accurate.
  1. Rubric – (1 per group member)Please include the attached rubric in your promptbook.
  1. Assembly- Projects should be presented in a binder or folder with a Table of Contents that orders the assignments as follows: cover page, company report, character reports, character performance comparisons, stage directions, production notes, and costume justification.

Performance:

  • Your performance should be based on the choices made while creating your prompt book. It should be rehearsed and prepared as a group. It is due on the day of the final. There are no exceptions.
  • If you are performing live, all prompts, scenery, and costumes should be present and finished at the start of class on the day of your final.
  • If you are presenting a film version, it should be uploaded to youtube BEFORE the start of class. I strongly suggest testing it to make sure that we can access it, because if we can’t see it, I can’t grade it.

Romeo and Juliet: English 1 Final Project

Group Members:
Scene name & lines:

Performance Rubricworth:

Exceptional / Strong / Good / Capable / Developing
Individual performance /
  • Script can't be seen by audience.
  • What is said matches what is written in the prompt book.
  • No awkward lapses, loud enough to hear, no inappropriate laughing.
  • Lines are delivered with appropriate emphasis, tone, and emotion, reflecting the intentions indicated in the prompt book.
  • Facial expressions support the tone and meaning.
/ 4 descriptors / 3 descriptors / 2 descriptors / 0-1 descriptor
Understanding of the scene /
  • Audience can understand what's happening.
  • No one has their backs to the audience
  • Presentation reflects the setting and time period chosen in the company report.
  • Presentation preserves the original meaning of the scene.
  • Characters movement reinforces meaning and message.
/ 4 descriptors / 3 descriptors / 2 descriptors / 0-1 descriptor
Costumes/
Props/Scenery /
  • Costumes are present.
  • Costumes reflect the plan made in the costume drawing/ justification
  • Props or scenery are present.
  • Costumes reflect setting or time period.
  • Costumes reflect loyalties or motivation.
/ 4 descriptors / 3 descriptors / 2 descriptors / 0-1 descriptor

Promptbook Evaluationworth:

(Points awarded on basis of completeness, insight, and writing skills)

Cover Page/Assembly

Company Report (1 ½ to 2 pages- 3rd person/formal)

Character Reports (1 page)

Performance Comparison (1 page)

Costume Drawing/Justification (at least ¾ page)

Production Notes (proper translation)

Comments:/ points

/ Total