Young Adult Drama
I think 9th graders would have a lot of fun with an R&J/Spring Awakening pairing. But then again I'm a Spring Awakening fan.

Typical "young adult" plays other than R&J and A Midsummer Night's Dream are The Miracle Worker, Pygmalion, and Waiting for Godot (ugh). Oh and A Raisin in the Sun, of course.

Wait, what about Pygmalion? I know you said they have to enjoy it on their own, but what if they all watch She's All That first? Also, couldn't you get them in on the ebonics debate? Or is that too touchy? You could even do the real Pygmalion myth too (Ovid)... You'd get in some good discussions of authorial message and theme all that. Or is this not for regular English class?

What about Fences or Angels in America? (Not that I've read them.)

-C

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/outstandingbooks/dramaoutstanding.cfm

P.S. Remember that unit plan I did on resistance? Inherit the Wind plus The Chocolate War? I also considering Nothing but the Truth (Ronn Smith & Avi -- adapted from the novel) and An Enemy of the People (Ibsen). I don't think your 7th graders would like any of those, however.... Maybe the Avi one. But it's sort of eh.

P.P.S. What about one of these? http://www.arena-stage.org/season/ Stick Fly? http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?r=1&ISBN=9780810125353&ourl=Stick-Fly%2FLydia-R-Diamond