Virtual Museum
Romeo and Juliet
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Photo Gallery (5 images)
- Celia Franca as Lady Capulet (1964)
The National Ballet of Canada first performed Romeo and Juliet at Montréal's Place des Arts on April 14, 1964, with guest artists Marcia Haydée and Ray Barra from the Stuttgart Ballet in the title roles.
The company then took Romeo and Juliet home to Toronto and marked the National Ballet's debut at the O'Keefe Centre. It was the first large-scale 20th-century ballet as well as the most lavish to enter the company's repertoire and was deliberately chosen to suit the large stage of the O'Keefe Centre. The first Toronto performance was on April 21, 1964 and featured Galina Samsova and Earl Kraul in the lead roles. - Earl Kraul and Veronica Tennant in the CBC film of Romeo and Juliet (1964)
Following its successful premiere, Romeo and Juliet was filmed for CBC television by Norman Campbell starring a 19-year old Veronica Tennant as Juliet and Earl Kraul as Romeo. It aired on September 15, 1965 and later won the Prix René Barthelemy at the International Television Festival in Monte Carlo in 1966. - Romeo's ball jacket from Act II (1976)
In 1973, a fire in the National Ballet's wardrobe department destroyed all of the costumes for Romeo and Juliet. The production was rebuilt in 1976 and returned to the National Ballet's repertoire as part of the 25th anniversary season. It was first performed at the Olympic Arts Festival in Montréal in July of 1976 and then performed in Toronto in November. Many former National Ballet dancers came out of retirement to appear for a special performance on November 14, 1976 including Lilian Jarvis as Juliet, Hazaros Surmeyan as Romeo, Yves Cousineau as Tybalt and Celia Franca as Lady Capulet. - Pointe shoes worn by Veronica Tennant in her final performance of Romeo and Juliet (February 12, 1989)
After 25 years with the company, Principal Dancer Veronica Tennant danced her farewell performance with the National Ballet as Juliet on February 12, 1989. Ms. Tennant has gone on to achieve international acclaim for her documentary films on The National Ballet of Canada. - Dancers, orchestra members, artistic staff, production staff, wardrobe and crew of The National Ballet of Canada onstage following a performance of Romeo and Juliet (2006)
In 1995, Romeo and Juliet was given a fresh look with totally redesigned sets and costumes by celebrated Canadian designer Susan Benson. The new production was generously underwritten by long-time supporter Walter Carsen and premiered on February 8, 1995.
In a tribute to the premiere performance of Romeo and Juliet at the O'Keefe Centre, The National Ballet of Canada's farewell season at the renamed Hummingbird Centre featured Romeo and Juliet as the final full-length production. The farewell Romeo and Juliet show was performed on May 7, 2006 featuring Sonia Rodriguez as Juliet and Aleksandar Antonijevic as Romeo.
- Celia Franca as Lady Capulet (1964)
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Photo Gallery (5 images)
Performance Video 
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Chan Hon Goh as Juliet (1997)
Romeo and Juliet
Contributing Photographers
Joseph Ciancio
Ken Bell
Setareh Sarmadi
Bruce Zinger
Production Chronology
Romeo and Juliet
Premiere date: April 14, 1964
Choreography: John Cranko
Music: Sergei Prokofiev
Set and Costume Design: Jürgen Rose
Lighting Design: Wallace Russell
Romeo and Juliet (revival)
Premiere date: July 11, 1976
Choreography: John Cranko
Music: Sergei Prokofiev
Set and Costume Design: Jürgen Rose
Lighting Design: Wallace Russell
Romeo and Juliet (new production)
Premiere date: February 8, 1995
Choreography: John Cranko
Music: Sergei Prokofiev
Set and Costume Design: Susan Benson
Lighting Design: Robert Thomson
This production entered the repertoire of The National Ballet of Canada on February 8, 1995 and was totally underwritten by Walter Carsen, O.C.