Wisconsin Lutheran High School in Milwaukee

Drop Dead, Juliet

By Allison Williams

A short comedy
Produced by special arrangement with Theatrefolk.

Synopsis of Plot
Juliet has had enough! No more poison, stabbing, or dying. Romeo and Juliet will never be the same - or will it? Not everyone’s so keen on the changes.

Setting: The set of Romeo and Juliet
Scene 1: Tomb
Scene 2: Outdoors
Scene 3: Juliet’s Bedroom
Scene 4: Capulet Palace
Scene 5: Juliet’s Balcony
Scene 6: Juliet’s Bedroom
Scene 7: Sister Lawrence’s Cell
Scene 8: Tomb

There will be one 10-minute intermission after Drop Dead, Juliet.
Please do not take flash pictures or use recording equipment during the performance. Thank you for your cooperation.

Drop Dead, Juliet Cast

List of 19 items.

Juliet Capulet: Elisabeth Meyer

Elisabeth Meyer (Juliet)
Elisabeth Meyer is a senior this year at Wisco. This is her third play (The Giver and The Curious Savage) and she has been in four Wisco musicals (Shrek, How to Succeed at Business, Sound of Music, and Newsies). It has been an honor for Elisabeth to play the title role in this year’s production! She would like to thank God for every blessing and every hardship, her parents for being her support system/Uber Eats drivers, and her understanding directors and teachers. She extends special shoutouts to Molly, her dearest senior play ladies and the hype backstage group, her council president and the Rev, the lovely Lydia Swezey (who is playing the other Juliet), the WK’s, the entire cast of DDJ, and all of the wonderful people who contributed to everything that was needed to make this show happen!! If this happens to be the last time she ever gets to perform on the Wisco stage, she would like to thank the Fine Arts department for four unforgettable years.
Nurse: Reagan Godager
Lord Capulet: Lyle Dolphin
Lady Capulet: Emily Harders

Emily Harders (Princess)
Emily is a senior at Wisco, and this is her second show. She made her entrance into the world of theater as Fairy May in The Curious Savage last year. She has had so much fun working with the incredible cast and crew of these shows. Emily would like to thank everyone that has supported her through this journey, such as 1st hour commons, her parents, her parrots, and the rest of her family. Finally, she would like to thank God for giving the seniors this year the opportunity to have a final show.
Gregory: Julia Neuman
Sampson: Ella Goede
Tybalt: Molly Mars

Molly Mars (Tybalt)
Molly is a senior in the Wisco Fine Arts department. This is her second play (The Curious Savage) along with two musicals (The Sound of Music and Newsies). Molly loves being a part of both one-acts this year, as she gets to be back on stage with all of the talented actors casted this year. She is thankful this year to get an opportunity to be back on stage, even if it is for the last time, and for the many hours she spent helping the cast become better actors. She would also like to thank God who has given her the ability to share her gifts on the stage, her parents for supporting her even after late night rehearsals, Elisabeth for always bringing the snacks, the lovely senior ladies, and her fellow actors of both casts. Lastly, she would like to thank all those who have helped put on productions here at Wisco as the curtains close on her senior year.
Romeo Montague: Michael Wilson
Abram: Hannah Bodden
Mercutio: Valerie Kane
Lady Montague: Abigail Berg

Abigail Berg (Lady Montague)
Abigail is a senior and this is her first drama production. She has participated in musicals and Wisco Kids. She is also a member of the student council.
A Montague: Lexy Miles

Lexy Miles (A Montague)
Lexy is a senior at Wisco and is incredibly excited to be participating in her sixth show on the WLHS stage. Her previous roles include Rebecca Nurse in The Crucible, The Announcer in The Giver, Fairy May in The Curious Savage, and Medda Larkin in Newsies. She is honored to be a part of both of the incredible casts in this production and thanks each cast member for making her final Fall Drama amazing. Lexy would also like to thank everyone who has shown her love and support throughout the past months of rehearsal. She would especially like to thank her parents for their endless faith and encouragement, her incredibly patient sister, Brielle, for always being ready to give sage advice (because no, Lexy does not need to buy another pair of mom jeans), her grandparents for every phone call, text, and Zoom dinner, Linda for sparking her love of theater, the StuCo Exec Board, all of her teachers, and, of course, her wonderful friends. Finally, she thanks God for giving her the opportunity to be a part of the WLHS theater department.
Shakespeare: Trevor Hoffman
Princess: Violet Rana
Sister Lawrence: Jadah Webb

Jadah Webb (Friar/Sister Lawrence)
Jadah is a senior at Wisco and is thrilled to participate in her first show on the WLHS stage. Jadah has enjoyed every moment of playing the character, Sister Lawrence. Jadah would like to thank everyone who showed their love and support over the past months of rehearsals. But most importantly, she would like to thank her incredible mother and all her friends.
Friar John: Carlos Walta
Ophelia: Rayna Jaeger
Desdemona: Kirstin Neuwirth
Stage Manager: Thea Stewartson

The Seussification of Romeo and Juliet

By Peter Bloedel

A short comedy
Produced by special arrangement with PLAYSCRIPTS INC.

Synopsis of Plot
A whimsical reinvention of Shakespeare's tragic love story, complete with rhymed couplets, creative wordplay, and fantastical machines — similar to something Dr. Seuss might have come up with if he ever had his way with the script . . .

Setting: Verona
Scene 1: Outdoors
Scene 2: Capitulate Palace
Scene 3: Outdoors
Scene 4: Juliet’s Bedroom
Scene 5: Outdoors
Scene 6: Capitulate Palace
Scene 7: Outdoors
Scene 8: Juliet’s Balcony
Scene 9: The house of Monk Larry
Scene 10: Outdoors
Scene 11: The house of Monk Larry
Scene 12: Outdoors
Scene 13: Juliet’s Bedroom
Scene 14: The House of Monk Larry
Scene 15: Juliet’s Bedroom
Scene 16: Outdoors
Ending 1: Backwards
Ending 2: En español
Ending 3: Fast Forward

The Seussification of Romeo & Juliet Cast

List of 22 items.

Prologue: Emma Herrmann
Narrator #1: Emma Pufahl

Emma Pufahl (Narrator 1)
Emma is a senior at Wisco this year and she is thrilled to be in her sixth show. Her previous roles include Cleaning Lady in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Lily in The Giver, Brigitta in The Sound of Music, Mrs. Paddy in The Curious Savage, and Les(lie) in last year's production of Newsies. Emma considers this year's production a great blessing and she has loved every moment of it. She would first like to give thanks to her castmates who continue to encourage her to become a better actress and try new things. She would like to give a special shout out to her other half, Lexy Miles, the play wouldn't have been as fun without her. She would like to thank her parents and brother, Ryan, for understanding the late nights and not getting mad. Finally, she would like to thank her Lord and Savior for giving her the gifts and abilities to perform on stage and for also helping her get through the tough times.
Romeo: Larson Khamo
Narrator #2: Lexy Miles

Lexy Miles (Narrator #2)
Lexy is a senior at Wisco and is incredibly excited to be participating in her sixth show on the WLHS stage. Her previous roles include Rebecca Nurse in The Crucible, The Announcer in The Giver, Fairy May in The Curious Savage, and Medda Larkin in Newsies. She is honored to be a part of both of the incredible casts in this production and thanks each cast member for making her final Fall Drama amazing. Lexy would also like to thank everyone who has shown her love and support throughout the past months of rehearsal. She would especially like to thank her parents for their endless faith and encouragement, her incredibly patient sister, Brielle, for always being ready to give sage advice (because no, Lexy does not need to buy another pair of mom jeans), her grandparents for every phone call, text, and Zoom dinner, Linda for sparking her love of theater, the StuCo Exec Board, all of her teachers, and, of course, her wonderful friends. Finally, she thanks God for giving her the opportunity to be a part of the WLHS theater department.
Mercutio: Lyle Dolphin
Benvolio: Lauren Clement

Lauren Clement (Benvolio)
Lauren is a senior and super excited to be cast in her first ever theater production at Wisco. Her previous roles include Lefou in Beauty and the Beast and a few years in summer acting classes. She describes this year's production as chaotically hilarious. Her favorite line by far is when she tells Romeo to "Just SHUT UP!" Lauren has loved every second of this new experience and wishes it could have lasted even longer (even with the 7 hour rehearsals ☺). She has met so many wonderful people throughout this short time and really appreciates all their kindness and amazingly bold personalities. The laughter, helpfulness, and support made all the difference. She would like to thank her awesome parents for the encouragement they provided and gives a special shout out to her little sister, Laine, for the hours spent working on lines with her. Lastly, she gives all glory and praise to her loving God.
Juliet: Lydia Swezey
Lord Capitulate: Joseph Lindenberg
Lady Capitulate: Valerie Kane
Tybalt: Abigail Berg

Abigail Berg (Tybalt)
Abigail is a senior and this is her first drama production. She has participated in musicals and Wisco Kids. She is also a member of the student council.
Monk Larry: Ryan Pufahl
Nurse: Molly Mars

Molly Mars (Nurse)
Molly is a senior in the Wisco Fine Arts department. This is her second play (The Curious Savage) along with two musicals (The Sound of Music and Newsies). Molly loves being a part of both one-acts this year, as she gets to be back on stage with all of the talented actors casted this year. She is thankful this year to get an opportunity to be back on stage, even if it is for the last time, and for the many hours she spent helping the cast become better actors. She would also like to thank God who has given her the ability to share her gifts on the stage, her parents for supporting her even after late night rehearsals, Elisabeth for always bringing the snacks, the lovely senior ladies, and her fellow actors of both casts. Lastly, she would like to thank all those who have helped put on productions here at Wisco as the curtains close on her senior year.
Abram: Anna Pufahl
Sampson: Mariah Whitelow
Gregory: Lynnia Doss
Princess: Emily Harders

Emily Harders (Princess)
Emily is a senior at Wisco, and this is her second show. She made her entrance into the world of theater as Fairy May in The Curious Savage last year. She has had so much fun working with the incredible cast and crew of these shows. Emily would like to thank everyone that has supported her through this journey, such as 1st hour commons, her parents, her parrots, and the rest of her family. Finally, she would like to thank God for giving the seniors this year the opportunity to have a final show.
Balthasar: Hannah Bodden
Lady Monotone: Emily Gorski

Emily Gorski (Lady Monotone)
Emily is a senior at Wisco this year and is excited to be performing in her first-ever show on the WLHS stage. The past 7 weeks have been an unforgettable experience and she wants to thank the rest of the cast for all of the laughs and funny memories. She also wants to thank her parents and family for dealing with her busy schedule, her friends for their support, Valerie for being a great lawn darts partner even when there were no lawn darts, Benji for not being the "creepiest creep" in the land, and God for allowing her this opportunity with such an awesome cast.
Lord Monotone: Benji Doerr
Paris: Carlos Walta
Servant of Capitulate: Rayne Jaeger
Stage Manager: Leah Zastrow

Director’s Note

This process has been a true adventure. I loved working with this cast because I asked them to bring creative ideas and they always did and made me laugh every night. I looked forward to the rehearsals. This production came together with the help of many people for whom I am extremely grateful. I want to thank my seniors for their strong leadership, maturity, and for being Christian role-models for the underclassmen. I am thankful you had this opportunity to be on stage again at WLHS. Thank you to Jim and Mike for painting such a beautiful picture with light. Alex, Peter Hahm, Mr. Radue, and Mr. Greschner, thank you for the sound and the hours you put in with our AV crew. Thank you to Ray, Jon, and Rachel for building and painting a set which was very flexible. Michelle, thank you for all of your dedication to the show and working as a co-director throughout the process. I appreciated an extra set of eyes and your dedication to the show. Thank you, Justin for suggesting Seussification, which led me to Drop Dead, Juliet and your help this week.

Production Staff

Director: Tanya Tranberg
Director: Michelle Goans
Stage Manager: The Seussification of R&J - Thea Stewartson
Stage Manager: Drop Dead, Juliet - Leah Zastrow
Set Design and Construction: Jon Stamm and Ray Stamm
Light Design: Jim Padovano and Mike Van Dreser
Lighting: Encore Theatrical Lighting, LLC
Prop Assistant: Katie Neuman
Choreographer: Molly Mars
Set Painting: Rachel Leverence
Ticket Sales: Sharon Kneser, Dawn Strand, and Kate Shambeau
Program: Carolyn Sachs

Casting: Justin Liepert and Tanya Tranberg

PA Crew: Alex Paffenroth, Philip Kolodzinski