Romeo & Juliet - A Zoot Suit Musical
Most enjoyed by children age 14 and older, this adaptation is set in 1943 during the height of the Zoot Suit riots in Los Angeles, telling the story of an interracial couple struggling to define and protect their forbidden love against the backdrop of social and civil upheaval.
From the dance floor of the pachuco club and into the streets of 1940’s Los Angeles, the plot emerges through music, dancing and the unforgettable language of the Bard: “What’s in a name?” The universal themes of this famous Shakespearean tragedy are still relevant to our students today who continue to face issues of immigration, culture, race and assimilation.
This musical adaptation was created, in part, to assist schools to meet the California State Board of Education’s English curriculum mandate requiring all 9th graders to read Romeo and Juliet.
Written by William Shakespeare
Adapted and
Directed by Tony Plana
