This is the question posed by St. Paul’s Lutheran School’s spring play, “Jitterbug Juliet” a 1940s spin on “Romeo and Juliet” that incorporates the swing dancing craze of the decade.

In this version of the story the feuding Montague and Capulet families are part of rival performance troops who get double booked at the same venue. The Capulet family is trying to put on a performance of “Romeo and Juliet” while the Montague family wants to do a jitterbug dance performance. The two groups are forced to share rehearsal space.

It is not long before Mr. Capulet’s daughter Juliet Capulet meets Mr. Montague’s son Ron Montague and discover they have a lot in common. The two star-crossed kids find themselves reliving the circumstance of the original Romeo and Juliet but with more swing dancing and a happier ending.

Director Emily Stoering said this year’s production is a little more daring than previous shows. In past years St. Paul’s has held alternative production of classic stories, such as Snow White and Robin Hood. This year’s play is also retelling of a classic story, in this case “Romeo and Juliet” but with addition of swing music.

Mia Hermanson playing Juliet Capulet (left) and Levi Martens as Ron Montague (center) watch Bekah Schaefer as Mercy O’Reiliy (right) she starts The Jitterbug.

“There is a lot of moving pieces in this production,” Emily Stoering said. “Every year the students need to learn their lines, but this time they have to learn their lines and the choreography.”

That said, the students have been up to the challenge. Emily Stoering said all the students have been in rehearsal since January and have put their time and energy to the production. She was impressed that 41 students in grades 6-8th made their commitment to to the show.

Eighth-grader John Stoering plays Mr. Capulet, who views the jitterbug as undignified dance and refuses to let his daughter Juliet near the Montague boy.

John Stoering said this is his third play at St. Paul’s and one of the most involved.

“I feel there is a lot going on in this play,” he said. “But it does fit together.”

At the front of the stage Mia Hermanson playing Juliet Capulet (left), Levi Martens as Ron Montague (center) and Bekah Schaefer as Mercy O’Reiliy (right) start getting into the swing of things during rehearsal for “Jitterbug Juliet.”

John Stoering said memorizing lines and dance moves is more than he has done for past production, but said it is fund to work on the production with friends.

Eighth-grader Eden Carlovsky plays Betty Abraham, an accountant to Mr. Montague, and agreed it was a very involved production, but she said working together with friends made it fun to do.

Eighth-grader Mia Hermanson, who plays Juliet Capulet, has appeared in several plays at St. Paul’s and State Street Theater, but believed this was one of the more involved. She said the challenge was not so much memorizing the lines and choreography, but doing both at the same time.

“It is worth to put on such a fun production,” Hermanson said.

Another fun part of working on this production is the hidden references and allusion to the Shakespeare play. Hermanson confirmed “Jitterbug Juliet” does have a balcony scene similar to the one in “Romeo and Juliet,” but with a slight twist. Audiences will need to the performances to see for themselves.

Evelyn Strackbein (left) and Bekah Schaefer (right) catch Kyla Huebner (center) at the end dance numbering during the rehearsal for “Jitterbug Juliet.”

St. Paul’s will hold two performances of “Jitterbug Juliet” at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 13 and Saturday, March 14. No tickets are required to attend the performance, but the school will accept free will donations.