A Message from the Artistic Director

FRANCESCO VENTRIGLIA | Artistic Director

Welcome to Romeo & Juliet

Dear Friends,

As I stand at the helm of this breathtaking production of Romeo & Juliet, my heart swells with gratitude. It has been a profound honour to collaborate with such immensely talented dancers and a dedicated crew and artistic team. Each rehearsal has been a celebration of passion, artistry, and the relentless pursuit of beauty.

I extend my deepest thanks to the brilliant creators who have brought this vision to life: James Acheson for his stunning costumes, Italo Grassi for the evocative set design, and Mario Mattia Giorgetti for his insightful dramaturgy. Your contributions have transformed my dreams into reality.

This production is my love letter to Alberta, to Canada, my new home. In every movement, in every note of the stunning Prokofiev score.

As Shakespeare beautifully penned, “My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep; the more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are infinite.”

Love, in all its forms, is the heartbeat of life, and I hope this performance inspires a deeper connection to the beauty that surrounds us.

With heartfelt appreciation,

FRANCESCO VENTRIGLIA
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

The Story

ACT I

It is morning in Verona’s market square.

The Capulet family leads a procession – a public display of pride and power that fills the market. The ceremony is abruptly disrupted. A chance encounter between the high-spirited young men from the Capulet and Montague families leads to a raging battle in the piazza. What begins as taunts and bravado ignite into a swordfight, rapidly spreading through the piazza as townspeople choose sides and the choreography swells from skirmish to chaos. The violence escalates, the feud consumes the square. Escalus, Prince of Verona arrives and admonishes Lord Montague and Lord Capulet to keep the peace, on pain of death. They do so, unwillingly.

Later in the day, Juliet prepares for her first ball, under the fond gaze of her childhood nurse. Her mother arrives with news that it is time for Juliet to marry, and that her parents have chosen Paris as her future husband.

As dusk falls, the guests arrive at the Capulets’ palazzo for a grand masked ball. Tybalt and Paris are present as members of the Capulet clan. Romeo, Mercutio and Benvolio arrive in masks, joining the festivities to goad Tybalt. Romeo sees Juliet, and it is love at first sight for both of them: neither realising until it is too late that their families are sworn enemies. Tybalt recognizes Romeo and is furious at the insult. Romeo leaves, only to return to the palazzo garden and Juliet’s balcony, where the young couple meet again and fall even deeper in love.

ACT II

The next morning, Romeo, Mercutio, and Benvolio return to the market square.

Romeo is preoccupied with thoughts of Juliet and hesitates to join his friends in the carnival celebrations. Juliet’s nurse arrives with a letter from Juliet: if Romeo is sincere in his love for her, she will meet him that morning at Friar Lawrence’s church, so that they can be married. Romeo is overjoyed, and a short while later, Romeo and Juliet are joined together in holy matrimony by the Friar. Juliet returns home to await Romeo’s visit to her bedroom that night.

Romeo leaves the church and is accosted by Tybalt, looking to avenge the insult of Romeo, Benvolio and Mercutio’s unwanted attendance at Lord Capulet’s party, and spoiling for a fight. Romeo, knowing that he is now related to Tybalt by marriage and wanting no argument, tries to leave but is goaded by Tybalt. A fight soon breaks out. In the melee, Mercutio is fatally wounded by Tybalt. He dies, cursing the Montagues and Capulets for their senseless quarrel. Enraged at the death of his friend and forgetting his earlier desire to make peace, Romeo kills Tybalt. Romeo flees as Lord and Lady Capulet arrive, grief stricken at the death of their nephew, followed by Escalus, who proclaims that Romeo is now banished from Verona, on pain of death.

ACT III

Dawn breaks the next morning.

As dawn breaks the next morning, Romeo and Juliet awaken in Juliet’s bedroom, having spent their secret wedding night together. Romeo must leave; if he is found inside Verona’s walls he will be executed. Juliet’s nurse enters followed by Lord Capulet with Paris: Lord and Lady Capulet have decided that, following Tybalt’s death, Juliet’s marriage to Paris must take place as soon as possible. Juliet is reluctant but, seeing no way out, gives in.

Desperate, Juliet runs to Friar Lawrence. He gives her a potion that will give the appearance of death. She should drink it the night before her marriage to Paris, her parents will convey her lifeless body to the family crypt, where she will wake 42 hours later. Meanwhile, Friar Lawrence will send word to Romeo, who will come and meet her as she wakes, so that they may leave Verona and be together. Alone in her bedroom, Juliet summons all her courage and drinks the potion.

The following morning, Juliet is discovered ‘dead’ in her bed. Dressed in her wedding gown, she is laid to rest in the Capulet family crypt. Romeo, who has returned without receiving Friar Lawrence’s message with Juliet’s plan, is maddened by grief and kills Paris, who has remained beside Juliet’s coffin. Rather than live without Juliet, Romeo drinks poison, and breathes his last breath as Juliet wakes from her deathly sleep. Finding Romeo dead, Juliet is distraught and finds no other reason to live. She takes his dagger and stabs herself.

EPILOGUE

The kingdom gathers for a final celebration.

As the Capulets and Montagues mourn their children, Escalus encourages them to forget their quarrel, forgive each other, and make peace.

Romeo & Juliet
Creative Team

Music Credits

Music recording courtesy of the Royal New Zealand Ballet. Recorded by Orchestra Wellington in 2017 at the St. James Theatre, Wellington, New Zealand and conducted by Hamish McKeich.

Romeo & Juliet
Casting

Alberta Ballet Dancers

Alberta Ballet Artistic Team

Alberta Ballet Artistic Support

Company Teachers | Francesco Ventriglia, Yoshiya Sakurai, Hayna Gutierrez,
Class Pianists | Lorel Leal, Michael Li
Physiotherapy | Peak Health and Performance
Stage Manager | Marisa Mireau
Second Stage Manager | Ingrid Kottke
Apprentice Stage Manager | Kade Mazury
Intimacy Coordinator | Shawna McGill-Legault

Production Team

Technical Director | Jason McLellan
Head Carpenter | Brian Chmielewski
Lead Fly | Kevin Green
Lead Props | Cassandra Thorbjornsen
Lead Lighting | Chris Axford
Second Lighting | Oliver Petti
Lead Wardrobe | Erin LeBaron
Second Wardrobe | Lori McMahon
Wardrobe Cutter | Sarah Cameron
Stitchers | Hannah-Lee Harris, Karen Crocker
Scenic Painter | Patrick O’Neill
Wig & Hairpiece Styling | Brenda Boutet

Stage Technicians provided by IATSE Local 212.
Costumes courtesy of the Royal New Zealand Ballet.

The Alberta Ballet Foundation:
More than what you see on stage

The Alberta Ballet Foundation is part of the vital network of supporters and funders who help make this vision possible. This support sustains scholarships, outreach, and artistic initiatives. From training young dancers to bringing ballet to new audiences, these programs keep the art form thriving.

In addition to supporting Alberta Ballet’s commitment to creating new productions and bringing new stories to life, Alberta Ballet Foundation also supports:

  • Opening Doors to Excellence – At Alberta Ballet School, 61 students received scholarships to pursue their passions for dance.

  • Inspiring Young Movers – Traveling throughout Alberta, we’ve introduced the joy of ballet to 1,000 youth in 8 communities from Chateh to Medicine Hat.

  • Breaking Down Barriers – Through partnerships with 40 community organizations throughout Alberta.

This impact is based on 2024/25 activity.

Thanks to sustaining support from Alberta Ballet Foundation, Alberta Ballet is steadily building on this progress in 2025/26.

Alfred Sorensen
Chair
Alberta Ballet Foundation

ALBERTA BALLET DONORS 2025/26

February is the perfect time to share our gratitude for all the contributions you have made to support the art form you love. A lot of that love has gone into the creation of Romeo & Juliet, with its dazzling sets, exquisite costumes, brilliant score and of course, Francesco Ventriglia’s innovative choreography that come together to create a grand production worthy of Albertans. As you are swept away to Verona, we hope you will take a moment to reflect on what your support has enabled us to do together, and we hope that partnership is reflected in a ballet company you can be proud of. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to our Dance Circle Members, Subscribers and audience members for your ongoing generosity. We honour you with every rise of the curtain.

Dance Circle Membership $1,500

Patron Program $5,000 +

If you’re a passionate Alberta Ballet subscriber, consider taking part in our donor activities.

To learn more, please contact us at Gifts@AlbertaBallet.com.

A whole community is working behind-the-scenes,
helping us inspire you with dance!

 BOARD OF DIRECTORS (2025)

2025/26 GOVERNMENT FUNDERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS