Gene Emerson Friedman designed the beautiful set, and Jessie Daitano played Juliet to Nathan Darrow's Romeo. The photo above depicts the balcony scene.
My dramaturgical contributions to this production were varied and challenging. I made some suggestions for proper pronunciation of lines in iambic pentameter, and assisted in word pronunciations as well. How do you pronounce the final syllable of "cockatrice" (3.2.49)? Does it rhyme with "ice"? Does it rhyme with "lease"? Actually, it rhymes with "bliss."
One of the most valuable contributions that a dramaturg can make is to bring a dictionary to rehearsals (even though this might seem obvious, this simple contribution can be invaluable at times)! If the dramaturg has a laptop computer with online access to the Oxford English Dictionary, that is even better. Having a print dictionary that can be left in rehearsals is always a good idea, especially since the dramaturg might not be there when questions may arise.
For this production, I conducted some intensive research on the handfasting ritual for a pantomime wedding ceremony of Romeo and Juliet conducted by Frair Laurence that we were considering, and I researched Roman Catholic funeral rites for the scene when Juliet is interred in the Capulet family tomb--in order to lend an air of authenticity to the onstage action.
