The first theatrical production of my high school career was Romeo & Juliet. I loved it. I think I played a couple or three small roles, mostly non-speaking parts, but my big moment was as <a href="http://www.clicknotes.com/romeo/Balthasar.html" rel="nofollow">Balthasar</a> — the guy who delivers the news of Juliet's death to Romeo, thus precipitating the tragic climax of the play. I had <a href="http://www.opensourceshakespeare.org/views/plays/characters/charlines.php?CharID=balthasar&WorkID=romeojuliet&cues=0&longlines=1" rel="nofollow">twelve whole lines</a>!

Then she is well, and nothing can be ill: Her body sleeps in Capel's monument, And her immortal part with angels lives. I saw her laid low in her kindred's vault, And presently took post to tell it you: O, pardon me for bringing these ill news, Since you did leave it for my office, sir.

Of course Juliet wasn't really dead. Thus my career in misinformation began.

Some people might think high schools shouldn't attempt Shakespeare, and I have seen the Bard butchered badly, but I still think we did a decent job. As an educational experience it was top-notch, and I am forever grateful to our drama coach, Ms. Wharton, for staging two Shakespeare plays during my time in high school.