Liz Gollen is an elementary teacher in Sagle, Idaho. She wrote this adaptation of ROMEO and JULIET to use in her classroom. The dialog and scenes have been condensed and simplified for primary grades. The play has been successfully performed in grades 2 through 8. Many of the classic and most familiar lines in Shakespeare's original play have been preserved with the help of an added character, Cornelius. (See Below)

The Teacher's Guide gives helpful hints about costumes, designing the set, and scenery change options. Set design and scenery changes are illustrated and also denoted in the script. All set and scenery components are created by primary aged students. Find out how to use common refrigerator boxes to change scenes quickly and easily. All other background supplies are everyday classroom materials.

Cornelius is not a member of the original Shakespearean version of Romeo and Juliet. He is a character Liz Gollen added, named after her uncle, Conn McAuliffe (a Shakespearean professor), that is used to clarify some of the original language in the play. This was done to preserve a few of the more beautiful and well known lines and make them more easily understood by children. Cornelius pops in and out of scenes that contain these lines, and questions characters about their meaning. As the play progresses, audiences love the unexpected visits from Cornelius.

A NOTE FROM LIZ GOLLEN

Using the script and the Teacher's Guide, students can be exposed to quality literature with historic value. Sometimes students that are not on a high academic track are not ever exposed to literature such as Shakespeare. This is an opportunity and a tool to expose all students to the classics early on in their educational career.

The play I have chosen to adapt lent itself to universal appeal. Romeo and Juliet is so full of secrets, fighting to the death, love scenes, plotting, sadness, and crushed hope; that I had no trouble at all getting boys and girls alike to become intrigued. By the end of the production, every student fully understood the concept of TRAGEDY.

Finally, through the use of "Reader's Theater" and Drama, students form a true connection to what they have been reading and embed a greater understanding of an extraordinarily beautiful piece of writing by one of the world's greatest authors. If you choose to try Shakespeare in your classroom, I hope these books make it a little less intimidating for you.

GOOD LUCK!

Liz Gollen

EZ Shakespeare for Kids
4588 Sagle Road
Sagle, Idaho 83860
Email: lgollen@hotmail.com
(208) 263-6129

Copyright 2000 McGollen Publishing