Composer: Prokofiev. Choreography: Drotar. Premiere: February 14, 2004 at the O’Shaughnessy in St. Paul. The Balcony scene will be performed by Julia Tehven and Ted Sothern. The ballet is based on the play by Shakespeare and has been performed as a ballet set to both Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev scores of the same name. This scene of the star-crossed lovers is the most recognized romantic moment in literature and translates eloquently as a ballet.

Synopsis:
Act I: Romeo, son of Lord Montague, tries unsuccessfully to declare his love for Rosaline and is consoled by his friends, Mercutio and Benvolio. As day breaks, the townspeople meet in the market place and a quarrel develops between Tybalt, a nephew of Lord Capulet, and Romeo and his friends. The Capulets and Montagues are sworn enemies and a fight begins. The Lords Montague and Capulet join in the fray, which is stopped by the appearance of the Prince of Verona who commands the families to end their feud.
Juliet, playing with her nurse, is interrupted by her mother, Lady Capulet, who tells Juliet that she is to be married to Paris. Juliet is unsure of her approaching maturity and shy with her intended groom.
Mercutio, Romeo, and Benvolio decide to go to the ball in pursuit of Rosaline. They disguise themselves as entertainers and don masks to avoid recognition.
Romeo and his friends arrive at the height of the festivities. The guests watch Juliet dance. Romeo, enchanted joins her. Paris interrupts the duet and Tybalt recognizes Romeo. Mercutio tries to entertain and distract the guests as Romeo leaves quickly, but Tybalt is angry and chases the last intruder away.

Act II: Romeo can think only of Juliet and dreams of the day he will marry her. In the meantime, amidst the festivities, Juliet's nurse pushes through the crowds in search of Romeo to give him a letter from Juliet. He reads that Juliet has consented to be his wife.
Romeo arrives at Friar Laurence's cell and asks the Friar to marry them. Juliet arrives and the lovers are secretly married.
The crowd in the marketplace is celebrating a feast day. Tybalt prompts a duel with Romeo but Romeo chooses not to fight. Mercutio takes up the challenge and fights against Romeo's attempts to pacify the pair. Mercutio is wounded and dies. Romeo is enraged by Tybalt's braggart air and takes up Mercutio's sword and kills Tybalt. Lady Capulet comes to grieve over the body of Tybalt and Romeo knows he is banished from Verona.

Act III: Romeo and Juliet are together in Juliet's bedroom, but Romeo must leave with the dawn. They dance a duet of farewell. Juliet's parents enter with Paris to make arrangements for the wedding to Paris. Juliet is distraught and refuses to marry Paris. Juliet rushes to see Friar Laurence.
Juliet falls at the Friar's feet and begs for his help. He gives her a vial of sleeping potion which will induce a death-like sleep. Her parents, believing her to be dead, will place her in the family tomb. Meanwhile Romeo, warned by Friar Laurence, will return under the cover of darkness and take her away from Verona.
That evening, Juliet agrees to marry Paris. Her parents are delighted. Left alone, Juliet drinks the potion given to her by Friar Laurence. Her Bridesmaids, nurse, and parents find her the next morning apparently lifeless on her bed.
Romeo, failing to receive the Friar's message, returns to Verona stunned by the news of Juliet's death. Disguised as a monk, he enters the crypt. Believing Juliet dead, Romeo drinks a vial of potion. Juliet awakens and, finding Romeo dead, stabs herself.