One of history's most beloved and legendary plays is that of William Shakespeare’s tragic love story, Romeo and Juliet. Through secret marriages, political feuds, and the relentless love between two star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet's story has enthralled readers for centuries, and Grant’s CPDA Magnet was no exception.
Between January and March, the CPDA Magnet freshmen embarked on a journey of trying to understand human connection as part of the Love Unit for their English classes. The 9th graders focused on reading Romeo and Juliet, attempting to get into the psyches of each of Shakespeare’s fabled characters, and understanding how love drives humanity’s actions and emotions based on the environment we grow up in.
As a culminating activity, CPDA teachers and coordinators arranged for performers from Topanga’s William Geer Theatricum Botanicum to visit Grant. Here, the freshmen had the opportunity to see a shortened, 45-minute version of Romeo and Juliet performed by professional actors of the Theatricum Botanicum, who later helped students act out scenes from Romeo and Juliet, incorporating stage combat, acting, and even dance into their choreographies!
(Photo Credit: Max Cecil; March 29, 2023)
At the end of the day, all of the freshmen were able to perform these scenes in front of a live audience made up of the rest of the 9th-grade teachers and students in the CPDA, being cheered on and praised for their lively, comedic, and dramatic performances.
(Photo Credit: Max Cecil; March 29, 2023)
When interviewed about his thoughts on the Theatricum Botanicum experience, freshman James Ackerman said, “I thought that it was a really fun experience. It was so cool to be able to see what we had been studying and take a look into how professionals interpreted the text. In addition, I had a ton of fun during the workshops because we got to have that little bit of exhilaration while fighting without anyone getting hurt.”
(Photo Credit: Max Cecil; March 29, 2023)
We sincerely thank all the teachers and coordinators from Grant’s CPDA Magnet who put great effort into organizing this entertaining and exciting event for the freshmen— it was a truly memorable day!
Editor-in-Chief: Nensi Hayotsyan
