LADY CAPULET by Melissa Bell

What caused the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets? This prequel to Romeo and Juliet follows the journey of Rose from country girl to matriarch, navigating her repression and power in 16th Century Verona in a time when family, money, power and gender determine everything.
Using heightened language, LADY CAPULET asks large questions about women’s place in the culture through a Shakespearean...
What caused the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets? This prequel to Romeo and Juliet follows the journey of Rose from country girl to matriarch, navigating her repression and power in 16th Century Verona in a time when family, money, power and gender determine everything.
Using heightened language, LADY CAPULET asks large questions about women’s place in the culture through a Shakespearean lens and features a strong female lead.
Although not a musical, this show has incidental music available without royalty, written by Graham Russell of Air Supply.
Reviews:
"Melissa Bell reimagines the life of Juliet’s mother in the years before the events of Romeo & Juliet in this classical prequel." –Time Out NY --- "Tantalizing" -Roundtheworldstage.com
Published in Smith & Krause's "The Best Men's Stage Monologues 2020" and S&K's Thirty Scenes for Young Women, 15 - 30, 2024
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LADY CAPULET

Recommended by

  • Jacquelyn Floyd-Priskorn:
    8 Mar. 2024
    “ Absolutely beautiful and dare I say, more powerful than the source material? But perhaps both together make a theatrical force to be reckoned with. This would be brilliant to be produced together with ROMEO & JULIET. The source of the rage between families being love denied for status. Wonderful roles for actors, the dialogue is musical and engaging. I am in awe of this piece. ”
  • Aly Kantor:
    6 Mar. 2024
    “ This prequel to Romeo and Juliet is SO SMART, and I enjoyed every second of it! Those who were not satisfied by the vague feud between the families Montague and Capulet will love this high-stakes backstory, in which Lady Capulet is given something even more precious than a first name—she is allowed to be a smart, cunning, capable agent of her own destiny, though her tragic end was always set in stone. The plotting is air-tight and brilliant, making the families in its iconic inspiration feel thoroughly three-dimensional. This moving piece will leave you hoping for a softer ending. ”
  • Rachel Feeny-Williams:
    22 Sep. 2023
    “ Romeo and Juliet has always fascinated me so anything that takes that story and places a new perspective on it is already onto a winner. This twist on the classic tale offers the audience an explanation into the sometimes overlooked character of Lady Capulet by creating her as an emotionally powerful female lead in this tale that proceeds to offer more insight into the classic Shakespearean tale in a brilliantly constructed way. If you're looking for a piece that mixes the classic with the new in wonderful balance then this is the play for you! ”
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Character Information

ROSE VALENCIO, LADY CAPULET: F. Age ranges from the cusp of 14, from the country, fresh, eager to please, with budding sexuality, to a 30-year-old Lady of Verona.

LORD MONTAGUE/TYBALT: M. Age ranges from a young man of Verona, early twenties to mid-thirties. He is handsome and makes light of the world. This actor doubles as TYBALT.

LORD CAPULET: M. A man of Verona; older man. Formal, sullen, controlled.

NURSE: F. Age ranges from mid-thirties to late forties. Proper where Rose and the family are concerned, but possesses a bawdy nature of her own.

LUCIO VALENCIO: M. Rose’s loyal older brother; age ranges from mid-twenties to late-30s.

  • Rose
    14-30,
    Any
    ,
    woman
    Age range: on the cusp of 14 years old, from the country, fresh, eager to please, with budding sexuality, to a 30-year-old Lady of Verona.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • The Nurse
    30-45,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    Proper where Rose and the family are concerned but possesses a bawdy nature of her own.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s, 50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Montague
    24-38,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    He is handsome and makes light of the world.
    This actor doubles as TYBALT.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Lucio
    24-38,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    Rose’s loyal older brother; marries the Prince's cousin Helena.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Capulet
    30-46,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    Formal, sullen, controlled.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s, 50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male

Development History

  • Residency
    ,
    CreateTheater Monday Night Development Series on STREAMING MUSICALS YouTube
    ,
    2024
  • Reading
    ,
    Bedford Playhouse, Bedford, NY
    ,
    2023
  • Reading
    ,
    Little Shakespeare Festival, Frigid NYC
    ,
    2023
  • Reading
    ,
    Norwalk Public Library Virtual Performance
    ,
    2021
  • Reading
    ,
    WHAM Festival at Goddard Riverside Arts
    ,
    2021
  • Reading
    ,
    CreateTheater YouTube
    ,
    2021
  • Reading
    ,
    CreateTheater Virtual Space
    ,
    2020
  • Reading
    ,
    Advice to the Players, Sandwich NH
    ,
    2020
  • Reading
    ,
    Turn To Flesh Productions Fifth Annual Staged Reading
    ,
    2018
  • Reading
    ,
    29th Street Playwrights Collective New Works Series
    ,
    2017

Production History

  • Professional
    ,
    Farm Arts Collective/Barefoot Shakespeare Co-producers
    ,
    2021
  • Professional
    ,
    City Artists Corps/Barefoot Shakespeare at Bernie Wohl Theater
    ,
    2021
  • Professional
    ,
    Barefoot Shakespeare Company
    ,
    2019

Awards

Finalist
,
Best Adaptations & Modernizations
,
New York Shakespeare
,
2021
Quarter Finalist
,
ScreenCraft
,
2021
Finalist
,
Pegasus PlayLab
,
Central Florida University
,
2019
Finalist
,
Henley Rose Playwright Competition for Women
,
Henley Rose
,
2017
Semi-Finalist
,
TRU Reading Series
,
TRU Theater Resources Unlimited
,
2017