Video: Jack Antonoff Forgot About 'All the Death' When Starting Music for ROMEO + JULIET

Composer and musical guru Jack Antonoff was profiled in a recent segment on CBS Sunday Morning to discuss some of his latest projects, including the new Broadway production of Romeo + Juliet, currently in previews at the Circle in the Square Theatre. 

The songwriter and record producer—known for working with artists such as Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter—wrote new music for this modern take on the Shakespeare tragedy.

"When I think 'Romeo + Juliet,' and I was doing this in music, I think about hope and love and finding something and running with it against all odds," Antonoff said on the program. "I always forget about all the death," he admitted, revealing that he had to go back into the score to provide some musical hints of the inevitable tragic elements. 

Romeo + Juliet is currently in previews at the Circle in the Square Theatre, with an opening night scheduled for Thursday, October 24. Watch the full interview with Antonoff now, where he also talks about working with Taylor Swift, his band, and selling out Madison Square Garden!

About Romeo + Juliet

In the production, Kit Connor as ‘Romeo’ and Rachel Zegler as ‘Juliet’ are joined by Tony Award nominee Gabby Beans (Skin of Our Teeth) as ‘Mercutio/The Friar/Prince,’ Daniel Bravo Hernández (Broadway Debut) as ‘Abraham,’ Jasai Chase-Owens (Broadway Debut; “The Expanse”) as ‘Gregory,’ Tommy Dorfman (Broadway Debut; “13 Reasons Why”) as ‘Tybalt/The Nurse,’ Nihar Duvvuri (Broadway Debut) as ‘Balthazar,’ Sola Fadiran (Camelot) as ‘Capulet/Lady Capulet,’ Taheen Modak (Broadway Debut) as ‘Benvolio,’ Gían Pérez (Sing Street) as ‘Samson/Paris/Peter’ and understudies Missy Malek (Broadway Debut), Timothy Oh (Broadway Debut), Susannah Perkins (The Wolves) and Daniel Velez (Broadway Debut).

Directed by Tony Award winner Sam Gold (An Enemy of the People), ROMEO + JULIET features music by Grammy Award winner Jack Antonoff and movement direction and choreography by Tony Award winner Sonya Tayeh (Moulin Rouge).

ROMEO + JULIET features scenic design by Tony Award nominee dots, costume design by Tony Award nominee Enver Chakartash, lighting design by Tony Award nominee Isabella Byrd, sound design by Tony Award winner Cody Spencer, hair, wig and makeup design by Robert Pickens and Katie Gell and violence by Drew Leary. Claire Warden will serve as intimacy director, Gigi Buffington will serve as voice and text coach, and Michael Sexton and Ayanna Thompson will serve as dramaturgy and text consultants. Production stage management is by Rachel Bauder, Juniper Street Productions is the Production Manager, and101 Productions, Ltd will serve as general manager. Casting is by Taylor Williams, CSA.

Left to their own devices in their parents’ world of violent ends, an impulsive pair of star-crossed lovers hurtle towards their inescapable fate. The intoxicating high of passion quickly descends into a brutal chaos that can only end one way.