The Summer Gear-Up Program included a Le Moyne College literacy component taught to Syracuse City School District students by Le Moyne College preservice secondary teachers. First, ninth grade students studied video and script versions of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Next they read classical youth literature and wrote scripts related to their own lives. Finally they performed their scripts and were given a DVD of their class performances. The reading, writing, listening, speaking, and viewing proved to be joyous experiences for all!