Weber 9th-grade students spent a day immersed in Romeo and Juliet through a grade-wide Shakespeare experience on campus, organized by English teacher Vanessa Reid, with support from colleagues Hannah Chapple (Dean of Studies) and English teacher Missy Davis, in partnership with The Atlanta Shakespeare Company (ASC).
Students began with Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 film adaptation, a longtime classroom staple that keeps the story in a traditional setting and stays closely tied to Shakespeare’s text. They then watched ASC’s R&J: 60, a small-cast adaptation that condenses the full tale into sixty minutes of romance, poetry, humor, swordplay, and tragedy, with six actors playing multiple roles in a fast-paced, high-energy performance. Together, the film and live performance helped students track the plot and relationships before diving into the written text.
Following the performance, students participated in acting workshops led by ASC’s Teaching Artists. These workshops, known as “Playshops,” encouraged students to get on their feet and explore the text through movement, scene work, and performance choices. Students also rotated through related activities, including Shakespearean puns and a crowd favorite Shakespearean insult contest.
Reflecting on the importance of studying Shakespeare, Ms. Reid emphasized the enduring power of his storytelling. “Shakespeare’s work was performed for nobles and everyday people alike, written in a way that still resonates today,” Reid shared. “Studying his language, we’re not just exploring age-old texts but also connecting with literary devices that shape modern storytelling.” She added that the goal is to show students “how much fun Shakespeare can be,” and, in Shakespeare’s own words, that “Learning is but an adjunct to ourself, and where we are our learning likewise is."