Romeo and Juliet Sensory-friendly Show Guide

by William Shakespeare

SENSORY–FRIENDLY SHOW GUIDE

Directed by Kevin G. Coleman

This production is part of Shakespeare in American Communities, a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. This performance of Romeo and Juliet is generously supported by a grant from the GKV Foundation.

This sensory–friendly performance of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is presented by the Northeast Regional Tour of Shakespeare and features seven different actors.

During the show, you will hear different sound effects and music, see different kinds of lights, and even see a dance performed. The volume of the sounds have been lowered a bit, and some of the lights in the theater will remain on during the performance so you are able to move around, enter, and exit as you need.

In the tradition of Shakespearean theater, people in the audience may make noises throughout the play such as clapping and cheering for the hero, or hissing at the villain.

Romeo and Juliet is 90 minutes and has no intermission, but you’re free to leave and return at any time.

The cast of the Northeast Regional Tour of Shakespeare’s production of Romeo and Juliet, 2023.

THE THEATER

We are going to the theater at Shakespeare & Company to see a show. The theater is called the Tina Packer Playhouse.

PARKING

We will park the car in the parking lot near the theater, then walk to the theater entrance.

Tina Packer Playhouse

Tina Packer Playhouse parking lot (arial view)

Tina Packer Playhouse entrance (from parking lot)

LOBBY

The lobby has many windows with views of what’s outside.

There is a concessions stand where anyone can buy a drink or a snack.

The lobby can be noisy when there are people in it.

We will walk into the lobby before we go into the theater where we will see the show.

The Tina Packer Playhouse lobby

The Box Offce with an employee.

There is a concessions stand where anyone can buy a drink or a snack.

The lobby can be noisy when there are people in it.

We will walk into the lobby before we go into the theater where we will see the show.

Concession stand, Josie’s Place

THE BOX OFFICE

Before we go into the theater, we will pick up our tickets for the show from the Box Offce.

Everyone needs a ticket to go into the theater to see the show.

THE TICKET WINDOW

The Box Offce is a table with a red curtain behind it.

The person at the table will hand us tickets for the show.

The Tina Packer Playhouse Box Offce.

A patron picks up a ticket at the Tina Packer Playhouse Box Offce.

TICKET SCANNERS

The theater usher will take our tickets to scan with a small, handheld machine that beeps.

After the beeping sound, we may enter the theater.

USHERS

The theater usher is a friendly helper.

We can ask the theater usher for help at any time.

The theater usher can help us fnd our seats.

Tickets will be scanned using a small handheld machine before entering the Tina Packer Playhouse.

Theater ushers will be present throughout the performance to assist patrons at any time.

ENTERING THE THEATER

When we hear the bell, we will enter the theater.

When we enter the theater, we will walk through red canvas walls to get to our seats.

OUR SEATS

The seats in the theater are benches. They have letters and numbers on them.

Every ticket has a letter and a number.

We will match the ticket letter and number to the letter and number on the bench to fnd our seats.

An usher can help us fnd our seats.

This is where we will sit to watch the show.

The entrance to the theater at the Tina Packer Playhouse.

Inside the Tina Packer Playhouse theater

Seating inside the Tina Packer Playhouse.

STAIRS AND AISLES

We will walk carefully down a few stairs to get to our seats.

SITTING

The people who came together can sit together.

There may be people we don’t know sitting near us.

When we are seated, sometimes people will walk by or in front of us.

Theater aisles inside the Tina Packer Playhouse.

Patrons sitting in the audience enjoying a performance at the Tina Packer Playhouse.

THE STAGE

The stage includes dark curtains and red curtains, with a big bench and other boxes in front of them.

Actors come on stage from behind these curtains and from each side of the stage.

Actors will come on stage from backstage or from the wings on the left and right of the stage.

Sometimes an actor will walk in the aisles to and from the stage.

The Tina Packer Playhouse stage at the start of Romeo and Juliet.

THE START OF THE SHOW

The actors will come on stage before the show to introduce themselves.

When the show starts, the lights will dim slightly, and it will not get any darker than this.

There is always enough light in the aisles if we need to leave.

The cast of Romeo and Juliet welcoming the audience at the start of the show.

THE ACTORS

This is what the actors look like. They will each play a few different parts during the show.

Sometimes actors play parts of different genders than their own.

Headshot photos of the Northeast Regional Tour of Shakespeare cast of Romeo and Juliet, 2023.

THE PLOT

An ancient feud between two noble families, the Montagues and the Capulets, is tearing the city of Verona apart. The households regularly fght each other in the streets!

At the start of the play, yet another brawl breaks out, and Prince Escalus declares any more public fghting between the two families will be punishable by death.

Meanwhile, Romeo, the young son of the Montagues, is lovesick over a girl named Rosaline. His cousin, Benvolio, and friend, Mercutio, persuade him to crash a masked ball thrown by the Capulets, to distract him from being sad.

We soon learn that Lord Capulet is arranging a marriage between his young daughter, Juliet, and the County Paris, a young nobleman. It is planned for them to meet at the Ball, and Juliet is encouraged by her close friend the Nurse, and her Mother Lady Capulet, to meet Paris.

Montagues and Capulets fght in the streets of Verona.

Prince Escalus declares an end to public fghting between the Montagues and Capulets.

Romeo is lovesick and Benvolio and Mercutio try to cheer him up.

Lady Capulet tells her daughter Juliet that Lord Capulet has arranged a marriage between Juliet and County Paris.

However, the matchmaking attempt is foiled when Romeo, who is wearing a disguise, falls instantly in love with Juliet! Romeo comes in secret to Juliet’s garden later that night, and they vow to marry.

The next morning, Romeo goes to Friar Lawrence, a priest and close mentor, who warns him about moving so fast – however, Friar Lawrence also sees the young lovers as an opportunity to heal the rift between Montagues and Capulets, and agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet in secret.

The day after the marriage, Tybalt confronts Romeo on the street, as he is furious about Romeo crashing the Capulet Ball. The newlywed Romeo refuses to fght his wife’s cousin, and Mercutio thinks Romeo is being a coward. Mercutio fghts Tybalt who kills Mercutio. After his friend is murdered, Romeo re-enters and kills Tybalt.

Juliet is devastated when she learns that Romeo, her new husband, has killed her cousin, but she lets him visit her room before he leaves. He sneaks out the window the next morning, and Juliet’s parents and her Nurse come to her with the news that she is to marry Paris.

Romeo meets Juliet outside her balcony window and they vow to marry.

Friar Lawrence marry Romeo and Juliet in secret.

Romeo and Tybalt fght, and Tybalt is slain.

Romeo and Juliet spend one fnal night together before Romeo is forced to leave Verona.

Juliet refuses and goes to Friar Lawrence for help. He concocts an elaborate plan to reunite the newlyweds: He’ll give Juliet a drug that makes her seem as if she’s dead, when in fact she’ll just be asleep. Friar Lawrence says he will send a message to Romeo to come and fnd her.

Juliet takes the drug, and her family believes she is dead. The message that Friar Lawrence attempts to send to Romeo alerting him of the plan is never delivered, and Romeo thinks Juliet is dead, too.

After meeting with an apothecary (a pharmacist) who gives him a deadly poison, Romeo rushes to Juliet’s tomb where he fnds Paris there mourning her and fghts with him. Paris is killed. Romeo then goes to be with Juliet, drinks the poison, and dies.

Friar Lawrence arrives at the tomb to care for Juliet as she awakes, only to fnd her discovering Romeo lying next to her dead. He tries to convince Juliet to leave, but she refuses and he fees at the sound of approaching footsteps. Left alone, Juliet stabs herself with Romeo’s dagger. In the wake of these horrors, the Montagues and Capulets

are compelled to make a tragic peace.

Friar Lawrence gives Juliet a drug that will make her family believe that she is dead.

Romeo mourns Juliet’s “death” inside her tomb.

Friar Lawrence fnds both Romeo and Juliet dead inside the tomb.

DURING THE SHOW

Some actors will wear different costumes and use different voices to play various parts.

Sometimes, the actors will use props like swords, fake food, or sticks.

Some sounds and music will play during the show.

Sometimes, the actors will wear masks.

The audience is welcome to make some noises during the show, like cheering for the hero or hissing at the villain.

The actors will wear masks periodically during the performance of Romeo and Juliet.

BATHROOM

If any of us need to go to the bathroom, we can get up to go any time.

Ushers can show us where the bathrooms are.

When the toilets fush, they are a little bit loud.

Toliets are available in the Tina Packer Playhouse.

Urinals are available in the Tina Packer Playhouse.

QUIET SPACE

If any of us need to take a break, we can go out to the lobby.

Anyone can sit in the break space, or walk around the lobby.

The break space will have pillows and cushions, as well as fdget toys and stress balls.

Some audience members will clap at the end of the performance.

CLAPPING

The show ends when the actors bow.

People will clap at the end of the show. Sometimes people will stand up to clap, and sometimes people will shout out to the actors.

It is ok to cover our ears if the clapping is too loud.

It is ok to “clap” with fngers waving (ASL claps)

People only clap for a short time.

LEAVING

Everyone in the theater will leave around the same time.

The stairs might be crowded.

We will walk slowly out of the theater.

Audience members will leave the theater after the performance is over.

SENSORY BREAKDOWN

Show Start – An actor comes onto the stage to greet the audience. The audience is welcome to respond!

1 Minute – When the actor is fnished speaking, the audience claps.

1:30 Minutes – Several actors wearing gold, sun-shaped masks walk on stage — some from backstage, some from the wings. One actor begins speaking; music plays from the speakers.

2 Minutes – Actors walk on stage from the wings, carrying props: one carries a staff, one a large plate of food, one a laundry basket, and one a basket of bread.

3:30 Minutes – The character Abraham drops a basket of laundry loudly onto the stage.

4 - 5:30 Minutes – A loud, but comedic fght breaks out with several actors yelling. Sampson raps his staff loudly on the stage foor, one throws bread into the air, and the large plate of food drops loudly on the stage. Piles of laundry are thrown around, and two characters fght with swords.

7 Minutes – Romeo enters the theater from the back, walking down the aisle past the audience to the stage.

10 Minutes – A Capulet Servant hands a letter to someone sitting in the frst row of the audience.

11:30 Minutes — The Nurse calls out in a loud, high-pitched voice.

12 Minutes – Juliet shrieks from offstage.

14 Minutes – A loud hand-clap is heard.

15 Minutes – Peter shrieks from offstage, then runs onto stage from the back, still shrieking.

16 Minutes – Sudden drumming is heard, followed by intermittent, but continuous drumming.

17 Minutes – Mercutio makes a throat-slitting motion, and draws his sword.

18 Minutes – Actors clap and yell, and emerge on stage wearing masks. Lord Capulet removed his mask after about 30 seconds on stage.

19 Minutes – Disco music starts to play; the actors dance.

20 Minutes – Romeo begins speaking from the aisle. Tybalt draws a sword and attempts to attack Romeo.

21 Minutes – Lord Capulet smacks Tybalt across the face.

22 Minutes – Romeo kisses Juliet.

23 Minutes – Several actors offstage shout for Romeo, as he runs up the side aisle.

24 Minutes – Romeo hangs off the “balcony” and the stage lights go up

25 Minutes – Romeo slaps the stage, and soon after, Juliet shrieks.

28 Minutes – Romeo, still in the aisle, asks an audience member in an aisle seat “What shall I swear by?”

30 Minutes – Juliet shrieks at the Nurse, and begins walking up the aisle. After reaching the top of the aisle, Romeo races back to the stage.

31 Minutes – Romeo claps.

32 Minutes – Romeo shouts from offstage.

34 Minutes – Mercutio draws a sword and playfully lunges at Benvolio.

36 Minutes – Romeo claps, and soon after, the Nurse hits Peter with a giant fan multiple times.

37 Minutes – The Nurse chases Benvolio and Tybalt off stage, hitting them with the fan. She then hits Peter and shrieks; Peter falls.

39 Minutes – The Nurse hits Peter one more time.

40 Minutes – Moaning is heard from offstage.

41 Minutes – Juliet shrieks.

42 Minutes – The Nurse wails

43 Minutes – Juliet shrieks with joy. The Nurse strips off a layer of her costume to become Friar Laurence.

45 Minutes – Tybalt walks down the aisle to confront Romeo’s friends.

46 Minutes – Tybalt slaps Benvolio, and Romeo walks down the aisle.Tybalt and others draw their swords.

47 Minutes – Tybalt spits on Romeo. Mercutio, Benvolio, and Tybalt draw swords and begin confronting one another. Mercutio beckons Tybalt with a cat’s meow. Tybalt and Mercutio engage in a sword fght.

48 Minutes – Tybalt draws a second weapon, a rapier – a thin, light sword. He stabs Mercutio as Romeo attempts to protect him. Tyblat runs away.

50 Minutes – Benvolio announces Mercutio’s death, and Romeo claps loudly. He tries to attack Benvolio but is held back. Tybalt screams, and he and Romeo have a sword fght, then fght with their hands.

51 Minutes – Tybalt staggers offstage. There is yelling on stage and off.

54 Minutes – The Nurse is heard crying offstage, then drops some items on the stage.

55 Minutes – Actors talk about blood briefy.

55 Minutes – Juliet yells and throws some items on the stage.

58 Minutes – Once more, the Nurse transforms into Friar Laurence

1 Hour – There is loud knocking on the door. Romeo pulls out a small weapon in a motion to take his own life. Friar Laurence returns the weapon he took from Romeo to prevent him from taking his life.

1 Hour, 3 Minutes – Lord Capulet says “Goodnight” directly to the audience.

1 Hour, 5 Minutes – Romeo and Juliet kiss. Romeo begins to exit, walking up the aisle.

1 Hour, 8 Minutes – Lord Capulet grabs Juliet.

1 Hour, 10 Minutes – Lord Capulet yells at Lady Capulet, and then at Juliet.

1 Hour, 13 Minutes – Paris kisses Juliet.

1 Hour, 14 Minutes – Juliet withdraws a knife from Friar Laurence’s basket and makes a motion with it.

1 Hour, 18 Minutes – A clock begins striking. The Nurse begins yelling, believing Juliet is dead. Lady Capulet, confronting Juliet, also begins yelling.

1 Hour, 20 Minutes – Lady Capulet cries. Romeo suddenly appears in the aisle at the back of the house, and makes his way toward the stage. He yells from the stage two different times.

1 Hour, 23 Minutes – Juliet returns to the stage and pretends to be dead, but is not. Paris speaks from the aisle. He pulls out a sword and threatens Romeo.

1 Hour, 24 Minutes – Paris lunges at Romeo, who smacks him. They fght and Romeo kills Paris.

1 Hour 26 Minutes – Romeo kisses Juliet, and kneels to drink poison. He dies.

1 Hour, 27 Minutes – Juliet wakes up. She sees Romeo, who is dead on the foor beside her.

1 Hour, 28 Minutes – Juliet attempts to drink the poison from the vial that Romeo used to take his own life, but none is left.

1 Hour, 30 Minutes – Juliet kisses Romeo. She uses the rapier to stab herself, and dies.

This performance of Romeo and Juliet is generously supported by a grant from the GKV Foundation.

The Northeast Regional Tour of Shakespeare’s production of Romeo and Juliet is part of Shakespeare in American Communities, a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.