The Montagues and the Capulets of Verona hate each other. When a squabble between the servants of the two households escalates into a pitched street battle involving the family patriarchs, Prince Escalus intercedes. He decrees that perpetrators of any further violence will be put to death.

Lord and Lady Montague ask their nephew, Benvolio, if he knows what troubles their son, Romeo. Benvolio tells them Romeo is desperately in love with a woman named Rosaline, who is sworn to chastity and ignores him. Benvolio has encouraged Romeo to pursue other young women, but Romeo refuses.

Paris, a nobleman, seeks Lord Capulet’s permission to marry Capulet’s daughter, Juliet. Capulet agrees if Paris can win her heart and invites him to a banquet that evening. Capulet then gives a list of invitees to a servant who, as it turns out, can’t read. Out in the street, the servant asks for help from Romeo and Benvolio. When Romeo sees Rosaline on the guest list, he and Benvolio decide to go to the party in disguise.

Meanwhile, Lady Capulet tells Juliet about Paris, and Juliet consents out of filial duty to consider him as a husband. Masked, Romeo, his friend, Mercutio, and Benvolio enter the Capulet feast. The Capulets' nephew, Tybalt, recognizes Romeo’s voice but is restrained from confronting him by Lord Capulet. Romeo and Juliet meet and fall in love. Romeo learns from Juliet’s nurse that she is a Capulet. Nurse tells Juliet that Romeo is a Montague.

After the banquet, Romeo eludes his friends and secretly returns to the Capulets, where he and Juliet confess their love. Romeo goes to find Friar Laurence and enlist his aid in marrying them. The next day, Romeo sends Juliet a message with instructions to meet him that afternoon at Friar Laurence’s cell where they can be wed. All goes according to plan, and Friar Laurence marries them.

On his way from his wedding, Romeo encounters Mercutio, Benvolio and Tybalt. Tybalt insults Romeo, who is anxious to avoid a fight with his new kinsman. Mercutio, irritated by Romeo’s seeming meekness, engages Tybalt. When Romeo tries to stop the fight, Tybalt mortally wounds Mercutio and flees. Mercutio dies, cursing both Capulet and Montague households. When Tybalt returns, Romeo fights with him and kills him. Prince Escalus appears and banishes Romeo from Verona.

As night approaches, Juliet waits for Romeo. Nurse brings word of Tybalt’s death and Romeo’s banishment. In grief and despair, Juliet talks of suicide, until Nurse volunteers to bring Romeo to her.
Nurse finds him at Friar Laurence’s cell. Like Juliet, Romeo is suicidal until Friar Laurence speaks sternly to him and tells him to go to Juliet. Afterward, Romeo will go to Mantua until things are sorted out and he can return.

At dawn, Romeo reluctantly bids goodbye to Juliet. His departure is hastened by the approach of Lady Capulet, who comes to tell Juliet she will be married to Paris in three days. Juliet objects, angering both her parents. After they leave, Nurse advises Juliet to forget about her marriage to Romeo and marry Paris.

Juliet outwardly acquiesces but seeks help from Friar Laurence. Friar Laurence gives her a potion which will make her appear dead. She will then be placed in the family crypt to await Romeo, who will carry her off to Mantua. Juliet returns to her father and apologizes to him. Lord Capulet moves the wedding up to the next day.

Juliet drinks the potion that night. The next morning, when Nurse cannot wake her, the household is plunged into grief. Wedding preparations become funeral preparations. Juliet is interred in the family vault.

Meanwhile, Friar Laurence has sent Friar John to Romeo with a letter explaining what is going on. Unfortunately, Friar John is unable to deliver it. Instead, Balthasar, Romeo’s servant, goes to Mantua and tells Romeo that Juliet is dead. Romeo goes to an apothecary and buys poison. He and Balthasar return to Verona.

At the tomb, Paris is mourning. His page warns him that someone is coming and he hides. That someone is Romeo, who breaks into the tomb. Paris interrupts him and they fight. Romeo kills him, goes to Juliet, swallows the poison and dies. When Juliet awakes shortly afterward, Friar Laurence has arrived. Telling her what has happened, he begs her to flee, but she refuses. She stabs herself with a dagger.

Day dawns on the grim scene. The Prince, Lord and Lady Capulet and Lord Montague arrive. Balthasar confirms Friar Laurence’s account of what has happened. Finally comprehending what their feud has led to, the two families make peace and vow to erect golden statues of the two lovers.
For Families: Shakespeare’s classic tragedy of young love is rich with humor, romance, pathos and action. The play contains a realistic portrayal of the banter between teenage boys, and verbal sexual imagery. Best enjoyed by young people ages 10 and up with some exposure to the plot and Shakespeare’s language. Half-hour Prefaces are available offered every night Romeo and Juliet performs June 21-Aug. 31 from 6:30–7:00 PM. Order Preface tickets along with your play tickets.