“I was a little nervous about how my students would engage with the show if they didn’t know the story in advance. My concerns were put at ease right away, and I’ve been able to use the field trip as a great anchor for our study of the play.”

“Our students are all clinically diagnosed with traumatic stress. They seldom enjoy plays. On that day… they absolutely enjoyed the CSC production. It was just GREAT.”

“You were more than willing to accept our group of children with unique abilities, mostly with Autism, and not only accommodated us, but made sure that we were well prepared. The production held each of our students captive, they were not only engaged but they were ABSORBED into the production. Chesapeake Shakespeare Company absolutely floored us.”

“For many of our students, this was their first professional production and they were so impressed. They couldn’t stop talking about the cast, plot, and costumes. They loved the question and answer session with the performers.”

“The acting was phenomenal; the staging was wonderful; the fight choreography was fantastic; the scenic and lighting elements were terrific; and the costume design was outstanding!”

“I can tell that the dialogue that occurred—the private conversations they had with the actors after the performance—had such a positive influence on them, in so many ways. It was a wonderful experience for all of us.”

“My students’ understanding of the play increased greatly. The performance made a huge impact.”

“Great performance, and the girls raved about it. Many of them said it was their favorite field trip of the year.”

"Our students loved the show so much more than I even imagined. Before watching the show, our classes had not gotten the entire way through the reading of the play - we had students crying at the end or genuinely outraged by the ending. One student commented that seeing the play was the "best day" of their life. Honestly, they loved it! Huge success!”

"The students came back with a sense of wonder and insider knowledge. I think that for them, they had an idea of what the play should be like based on the movies and performances, but they were really interested in the differences in pacing and action."

"This was a perfect first-time theatre experience for my students, and we hope to visit Chesapeake Shakespeare Theatre soon for another play"

"Such a lovely performance; it was entertaining and a valuable tool for the classroom, giving students a better understanding of the play and Shakespeare's craft"

"Several students commented that they didn't expect to see black actors, let alone have a black Juliet. It was refreshing to see a cast that mirrors the demographics of the city in which the play is produced. Excellent work all around! Thank you so much for making this opportunity available to our students.”

"As I watched my scholars immerse themselves into the art of theater and actively engaging in discussion and connecting our ELA Standards to the production. I am excited about next years Romeo and Juliet"