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Home Famous Ballets

Romeo and Juliet

Learn about the characters, plot, music, interesting facts, and upcoming performances of Romeo and Juliet, one of the most famous classical ballets.

  • Who are the characters in Romeo and Juliet?
  • What is the story of Romeo and Juliet?
  • What is the music for Romeo and Juliet?
  • Where is Romeo and Juliet performed?
  • Related Stories
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  • Original Choreography: Leonid Lavrovsky
  • Musical Score: Sergei Prokofiev
  • Based on: Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet"

Romeo and Juliet Plot & Roles

*Classical ballets have evolved over time, lending themselves to different interpretations as choreographers and directors create works that reflect their visions of the story. The following is intended to provide general information; for details on different versions, click on each of the Romeo and Juliet performances below.

  • PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS IN ROMEO AND JULIET (in alphabetical order)

 
Benvolio: Cousin & best friend to Romeo


 
Count Paris (of the house of Verona): Pursuer of Juliet


 
Juliet: Lover of Romeo, Daughter of Lord & Lady Capulet


 
Friar Lawrence: Adviser to Romeo


 
Lord & Lady Capulet: Parents to Juliet


 
Lord & Lady Montague: Parents to Romeo


 
Mercutio (of the house of Verona): Close friend to Romeo, Cousin of Count Paris


 
Nurse: Personal attendant to Juliet


 
Romeo: Lover of Juliet, Son of Lord & Lady Montague


 
Rosaline (of the house of Capulet): First love interest of Romeo


 
Tybalt: Cousin of Juliet


  • ROMEO AND JULIET SYNOPSIS
⊙ ACT I, SCENE 1: THE STREETS OF VERONA

There is a quarrel between the servants of the two powerful houses in Verona – the Capulets and the Montagues. This results in a fight which is assuaged by the Duke.

⊙ ACT I, SCENE 2: THE CAPULET HOUSE

The Capulets host a ball to which Count Paris is invited with the hopes of winning Juliet’s hand. Romeo, who suffers from a depression caused by his unrequited love for Rosaline, is persuaded by Benvolio and Mercutio to sneak into the ball as masked visitors; he instantly forgets all about Rosaline as soon as he lays eyes on Juliet. This love is mutual but must be kept under wraps due to the feuding families from which they are born into. Tybalt, though, discovers the truth which leads him to want to fight Romeo; but the latter wants only peace between members of what he is believes to be future family.

After all guests have left the party, Romeo calls for Juliet from her balcony window, the two professing their love for each other.

⊙ ACT II, SCENE 1: AT FRIAR LAWRENCE'S

Romeo and Juliet have made plans to secretly marry at Friar Laurence’s with Nurse being the communicator that connects all parties.

⊙ ACT II, SCENE 2: THE STREETS OF VERONA

In the midst of some of the town’s regular festivities, Mercutio appears ready to duel Tybalt on Romeo’s behalf. He dies when Romeo tries to break up the fight which leads to an overwhelming grief and guilt that consumes the wannabe peace maker. His feelings swell to the point of confrontation with Tybalt and results in him killing Juliet’s cousin and being exiled from Verona.

⊙ ACT III, SCENE 1: JULIET'S BEDROOM

The lovers consummate their marriage and pain at their needing to separate before the sun comes up.

Meanwhile, Lord Capulet has agreed to marry Juliet to Count Paris. Juliet refuses to do so and tries to compromise, asking for a delay in the wedding date. Her parents refuse and Juliet’s desperation causes her to take desperate measures; even Nurse cannot console her.

⊙ ACT III, SCENE 2: AT FRIAR LAWRENCE'S

Juliet pleads help from Friar Lawrence who gives her potion that will put her in a deathlike coma for a couple of days. The Friar promises to send message of the plan to Romeo.

⊙ ACT III, SCENE 3: JULIET'S BEDROOM

Juliet drinks the poison. Upon her inability to be woken by her visiting friends, the family mourns the loss of her.

⊙ ACT IV: THE TOMB

Friar Lawrence’s message does not reach Romeo in time, thus Romeo believes that his beloved is indeed dead just as everyone else does. After the processional at her tomb, Romeo poisons himself to be with Juliet and dies by her side. Upon awakening from her false death, Juliet is overjoyed by seeing Romeo next to her. Her happiness is short-lived, though, when she discovers that he has killed himself. She in turn stabs herself with his dagger.

★ INTERESTING FACT ★
Galina Ulanova, the Kirov’s first Juliet in 1940, also appeared on the silver screen version of ROMEO and JULIET. The stage production won the Stalin Prize and the 1953 screening won Best Lyrical Film (and nominated as Palme d’Or) at the Cannes Film Festival that year.
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Romeo and Juliet Music Playlist

Upcoming Romeo and Juliet Performances

03 - 04 February
Zorlu Center
Les Ballets de Monte Carlo Romeo and Juliet Istanbul

Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo: Romeo and Juliet

Levazım, Koru Sokağı No:2, 34340 Beşiktaş/İstanbul, Turkey

View Details
15 - 19 February
The Kennedy Center​
American Ballet Theatre Romeo and Juliet DC

American Ballet Theatre: Romeo and Juliet

2700 F St NW, Washington, DC 20566, United States

View Details
17 - 19 February
DeVos Performance Hall
Grand Rapids Ballet Romeo and Juliet

Grand Rapids Ballet: Romeo and Juliet

303 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

View Details
23 February - 05 March
Wortham Theater Center
Houston Ballet Romeo & Juliet

Houston Ballet: Romeo & Juliet

501 Texas Ave, Houston, TX 77002, United States

View Details
26 March
Mayo Performing Arts Center
New Jersey Ballet Once Upon a Time

New Jersey Ballet: Once Upon a Time

100 South St, Morristown, NJ 07960, United States

View Details
31 March
Toulon Opera
Les Ballets de Monte Carlo Romeo and Juliet Toulon

Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo: Romeo and Juliet

Bd de Strasbourg, 83000 Toulon, France

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31 March - 28 April
Royal Swedish Opera
Royal Swedish Ballet Juliet and Romeo

Royal Swedish Ballet: Juliet and Romeo

Gustav Adolfs torg 2, 111 52 Stockholm, Sweden

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03 April
Bavarian State Opera
Bavarian State Ballet Romeo and Juliet

Bavarian State Ballet: Romeo and Juliet

Max-Joseph-Platz 2, 80539 München, Germany

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16 April
Bergen Performing Arts Center
New Jersey Ballet Once Upon a Time

New Jersey Ballet: Once Upon a Time

30 N Van Brunt St, Englewood, NJ 07631, United States

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21 - 30 April
San Francisco War Memorial Opera House​
San Francisco Ballet Romeo and Juliet

San Francisco Ballet: Romeo and Juliet

301 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94102, United States

View Details
04 - 06 May
St James Theatre

Royal New Zealand Ballet: Romeo and Juliet

87/77 Courtenay Place, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand

View Details
06 May
Hancher Auditorium
American Ballet Theatre Mixed Repertory Iowa

American Ballet Theatre: Mixed Repertory

141 East Park Rd, Iowa City, IA 52242

View Details
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Famous Ballets
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