Romeo and Juliet Modern Adaptations

The Story Setting: Verona, Italy Montagues and Capulets Feuding families - rivals for power Similar to the Medici family and their rivals from the Renaissance time period. Juliet - does not want an arranged marriage Romeo - trying to get over his unrequited love They meet, fall in love at first sight, and secretly marry the next day Romeo is thrown out of the city for killing Juliet’s cousin, Tybalt, in a duel. To avoid arranged marriage, Juliet fakes her death with a poison Romeo believes she is dead, and poisons himself to death Juliet wakes, finds Romeo dead, and stabs herself to death The families end the feud after the tragedy. The Story

Adaptations 1998 2011 1968 2013 1996 2011

West Side Story 1957 Broadway musical (and 1961 film) based on Romeo and Juliet. Set in 1940 - 50’s New York City. Created as a plea for tolerance in the face of gang violence. The Sharks and the Jets are warring gangs in the film. Mirrored high tensions and violence between Puerto Rican gangs and others at that time in New York. “West Side Story: Making of a Classic”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XAoZdVGGrM Almost did not get made, since the script was rejected many times. The creators used nonsense “slang” so the show would not sound dated after a few years.