About the Play:

Act Three, Scene Five is a one-act romantic comedy by Terrence Ortwein. The stage is set for five students rehearsing a scene from Romeo and Juliet. Things do not go well as off-stage drama affects the performances. Especially recommended for school and contest use.

Act Three, Scene Five finds five students rehearsing a scene from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Things are not going well, the cast have been at work now for weeks but are not close to performance level. Inexperience, egos and jealousies are becoming more important than the show. The sometimes comic, always touching, love story of Romeo and Juliet is paralleled by a growing offstage relationship. Written by Master Teacher Terry Ortwein specifically for schools that wish to produce strong works without the burden of heavy technical demands, Act Three, Scene Five is a delightful look at how young actors make theatre come alive.

Act Three, Scene Five premiered in 1986 at Chaote Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, Connecticut. The show has been regularly performed across the United States, Canada, and Australia, and is an ideal choice for high school drama contests and one-act festivals.

Cast: 4 female, 1 male

About the Playwright:

Terrence Ortwein (1939-2011) spent much of his adult life in the theatre as a producer, actor, director, and writer. His professional career included teaching and administering departments and programs at Hanover High School, Wabash College, Dartmouth College, and Choate Rosemary Hall.