What if Juliet didin't die? That should almost be the start of the play! & Juliet is a multi-generational story of self-discovery, empowerment and love, imagining what would happen next if Juliet hadn't ended it all over Romeo, and got a second chance at life and love - on her terms. Juliet's new story bursts to life through a playlist of pop anthems as iconic as her name, all written by Max Martin and his collaborators. The musical features a book by David West Read, direction by Luke Sheppard and choreography by Jennifer Weber.
That may be why & Juliet, though often entertaining, also feels pretty disposable. The show-within-a-show framework doesn’t make a lot of sense if you think about it too much (or at all); aside from a plot strand involving the proto-trans May, who sings “I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman,” the stakes are not sharp enough to drive the story into solid ground. Directed by Luke Sheppard, the musical exists in an elaborately unreal world: Soutra Gilmour’s scenic design and Paloma Young’s costumes are delightfully creative transhistorical mix-and-matches that float the show in a swirl of unfixed fantasy. It all feels comfortingly familiar and indistinct—there’s not much narrative thrust to Jennifer Weber’s synchronized hip-hop choreography, which mostly suggests energetic background dancing at a concert—and the ideal place for it might be the high school auditoriums where it will surely enjoy a rich afterlife someday. But there’s no denying the relentless effectiveness of Martin’s earworm craftsmanship. & Juliet gives audiences what they want from it: all those hits, baby, one more time.
If you're anything like me, you probably haven't spent a lot of time wondering why Juliet had to die at the conclusion of Shakespeare's classic Romeo & Juliet. But the creators of the new Broadway musical & Juliet apparently have, resulting in the latest of what seems like an endless torrent of jukebox musicals. Fortunately, this effort featuring dozens of earworm-heavy smash hits by pop composer/producer Max Martin (a name you may not know, but you'll have no trouble recognizing his songs) and his various collaborators provides the sort of infectious silliness that makes for a very enjoyable evening, provided that you leave your brains at the door.
Digital Rush:
Price: $39
Where: todaytix.com
When: Tickets for that day's performance will be available on the TodayTix app at 9 a.m. each day on a first-come, first-served basis.
Limit: Two per customer
Information: Tickets are subject to availability.
Price: $45
Where: Standing room tickets are available in person at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre box office only.
Information: Standing room tickets will only be offered for sold-out performances and are subject to availability.
2021 | West End |
Original West End Production West End |
2022 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
2024 | US Tour |
North American Tour US Tour |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
2023 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Book of A Musical | David West Read |
2023 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Choreography | Jennifer Weber |
2023 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Costume Design | Paloma Young |
2023 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Direction of a Musical | Luke Sheppard |
2023 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Featured Performer in a Musical | Betsy Wolfe |
2023 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Lead Performer in a Musical | Lorna Courtney |
2023 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Musical | & Juliet |
2023 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Orchestrations | Bill Sherman |
2023 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Sound Design of a Musical | Gareth Owen |
2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Book of a Musical | David West Read |
2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Musical | & Juliet |
2023 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Award | Betsy Wolfe |
2023 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Award | Lorna Courtney |
2023 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Production of a Musical | & Juliet |
2023 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Book of a Musical | David West Read |
2023 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Choreography | Jennifer Weber |
2023 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Costume Design (Play or Musical) | Paloma Young |
2023 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Musical | Betsy Wolfe |
2023 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding New Broadway Musical | & Juliet |
2023 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Orchestrations | Bill Sherman |
2023 | Tony Awards | Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical | Lorna Courtney |
2023 | Tony Awards | Best Book of a Musical | David West Read |
2023 | Tony Awards | Best Choreography | Jennifer Weber |
2023 | Tony Awards | Best Costume Design of a Musical | Paloma Young |
2023 | Tony Awards | Best Lighting Design of a Musical | Howard Hudson |
2023 | Tony Awards | Best Musical | & Juliet |
2023 | Tony Awards | Best Orchestrations | Bill Sherman |
2023 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical | Betsy Wolfe |
2023 | Tony Awards | Best Sound Design of a Musical | Gareth Owen |
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