Romeo and Juliet - Soundtrack Project Details

Romeo and Juliet Soundtrack Project

Assignment: Create a soundtrack consisting of 10 songs that represent specific moments (scenes) from Romeo and Juliet.

• Written component: Liner notes explaining each song choice based on a theme, character, or tone of Romeo and Juliet
• Visual component: An album cover design that sets the tone for your soundtrack and reflects the greater mood and themes of the play

Timeline: Due in time for in-class presentations on Wednesday, May 31st. You will present 3 of your best songs and liner notes (along with your album cover).

You will be evaluated on the thoughtfulness of your song choices, your ability to explain your thinking with specific citations from the play, the effort demonstrated in your album design, and your presentation to the class.  This assignment will be worth 150 points.

Sample Liner Notes:

"I Gotta Feeling", by The Black Eyed Peas

This song connects with the Capulet's party in Act I. The mood at this point in the play is excited and anticipatory, and so is this song. Benvolio, trying to cheer Romeo up, encourages him to go to the party by saying, "But in that crystal scales let there be weighed/Your lady's love against some other maid/ That I will show you shining at this feast,/And she shall scant show well that now seems best" (I.ii.98-101). Benvolio hopes the party will show Romeo that Rosaline isn't worth all his pathetic moping, and life should be fun. 

A few reminders:

• No songs with explicit lyrics
• No songs from West Side Story or other Romeo and Juliet soundtracks

I am so excited to see your creative thinking (and your knowledge of Shakespeare) at work in this project!

Romeo & Juliet

Over the past few weeks, we have begun our study of Shakespeare and our in-class reading of Romeo and Juliet, which has been a true delight. We kicked things off with a viewing of West Side Story to frontload the basic plot and characters before tackling Shakespearean language. This Oscar winning musical won the hearts of many students, and I've even caught a few dancing in the halls or breaking into one of the many memorable songs from the show. 

Most 7th grade English classes these days take the shape of a theatrical reading, with students choosing parts as we move through the play and discuss characterization and larger themes.  Soon they will begin wrestling with the topics and tones of the play in both persuasive writing and a creative assignment that will ask them to create a soundtrack of ten songs (complete with album cover and liner notes) to reflect ten scenes they want to highlight in Romeo and Juliet. 

I've found two local opportunities for families to appreciate the language and story of this beautiful tragedy outside of class - one this month and one later in the summer - that you should know about. I hope some of you will take advantage of these amazing local resources!

May 20th:
Join Opera Theater of Connecticut on Saturday, May 20, 2017 at 7:00pm as we present the geniuses of Charles Gounod and William Shakespeare in this insightful and innovative blending of the music and verse inspired by the story of two star-crossed lovers “In fair Verona where we lay our scene” with singers and actors. Performed with professional singers and actors at The Andrews Memorial Theater, this exciting presentation is a “must see”!  http://www.operatheaterofct.org/shows/season2017/rnj17/

July 2017:

West Side Story
July 5th – July 30th, 2017
Based on a Conception of Jerome Robbins
With book by Arthur Laurents, Music by Leonard Bernstein, and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, this classic musical about teen romance from the opposite side of town in 1950’s New York will make you cheer and make you cry. The Sharks and the Jets reunite for this powerful and gripping ode to Romeo and Juliet. Tonight, Tonight won’t be just any night!

http://www.ivorytonplayhouse.org/our-season/our-2017-season