All this to say I bought tickets to see & Juliet. LOL! & Juliet caught my eye because the show is a fun, vibrant, modern twist on the classic Shakespearean story of Romeo and Juliet. It reimagines the iconic tale by exploring an alternate storyline where Juliet can choose her own fate. The musical features iconic pop songs that I grew up with, all produced by the musical genius Max Martin, the famous Swedish producer known for working with artists like Britney Spears, The Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, and Katy Perry. I also discovered that Joey Fatone would be starring in the show for a few weeks, which made my decision easy. If you know me, you know how much I loved *NSYNC during my younger years.
I decided to treat myself for my birthday and do something fun. I had no plans to leave the house on my actual birthday because frankly, I didn't want to. I tried my best to keep my spirits high for my birthday instead of spiraling, and I succeeded this year. It’s difficult, though, because everyone is so fucking miserable in January that it’s truly annoying. How do you expect me to be happy on my birthday when all of you are so whiny?! I’ll excuse people this year, though, as the dreadful inauguration of our Cheeto dictator was looming, which set a major negative tone for the majority of January. I’m surprised I kept it together, considering this happened the week I turned 37. Maybe I’m not okay and just suppressing emotions like usual. Who knows? I just ask for some sympathy as a January baby.
ANYWAY…
& Juliet is performed at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre, conveniently located near the N train in Times Square, considering it was a freezing February night. I remember when I bought the tickets thinking the seats seemed a little far from the stage, but in reality, they were close, and I had a perfect view of the stage. We sat in Orchestra Right, in the middle of row N. The theater is not as large as the Gershwin Theatre, where Wicked performs, which is probably why I thought it was further from the stage. I have to say… I LOVED everything about this musical. It’s high-energy, comedic, and just overall fun. I appreciated the clever and modern take on Romeo and Juliet. Yes, the story sometimes touches on themes of “popcorn feminism” and is critical of Shakespeare and Romeo, but it still presents an interesting perspective. I understand the criticism surrounding the musical, particularly regarding Juliet’s independence, and that Shakespeare didn’t shy away from writing strong female characters. However, I believe it’s possible to suspend your disbelief at times. Not everything needs complexity.
Obviously, I loved the music, although I still disdain Katy Perry’s “Roar.” I didn’t even realize Max Martin produced some of these songs. I was so excited when Kesha’s “Blow” started playing during the club scene! LOL. I found it clever how they intertwined the songs to fit the narrative of this jukebox musical. Some of the songs were executed perfectly for comedic timing. Khailah Johnson, who was Juliet’s understudy, is an absolute star. Her energy is contagious, and her voice is incredible. The cast has great chemistry and knows how to engage the audience. Joey Fatone was hilarious! I seriously love him so much. The entire theater was in an uproar every time he was on stage. I’m grateful I got to see him during his run of the show.
The choreography was fun, and the sets and costumes were incredibly creative. Interestingly, Charli D’Amelio is currently performing in & Juliet. I overheard someone after the show questioning why someone with her level of prominence on social media would have a minor role in the production. Girl, she’s a dancer! The show requires that bubblegum pop, Britney Spears-style dancing, and she fits perfectly. While I don’t think she has the vocal strength to be a lead on Broadway, I believe it was a wise casting decision to attract her fans to the show.
Honestly, she did a great job. Unfortunately, midway through the first act, she hit her head on the lowering stage wall. The stage manager informed the audience that they were checking to ensure all cast members were okay, which resulted in an impromptu intermission. She performed for the rest of the first act but was missing from the second act. Poor girl, I hope she’s all right!
This was Danny’s first Broadway show! If I brought him to & Juliet, I thought he might appreciate it more since the songs are recognizable and well-known. He actually really enjoyed it, which makes me happy because I was the one dragging him along. He says he appreciates that I introduced him to new experiences, and I’m grateful he’s willing to accompany me to shows and movies I want to see, even if it’s not his vibe.
It’s funny because Danny is so sheltered. I forget that I’ve been going to these things since I was a child because I was privileged. He asked if he could bring his camera, and I said no because it’s a live production. He also wanted to know if people could sing along, and I told him no, you can’t do that here. You have to be mostly quiet and respectful during the performance. He sighed in relief. LOL. He also said live stage shows don't bother him as much as musical film adaptions. Sometimes I don’t understand this man. This was also dangerous for him to say to me as I might run off and buy more Broadway tickets.
Overall, & Juliet is lighthearted, funny, and surprisingly emotional at times. It’s definitely a feel-good show. If you want to leave the theater with a smile, this is the one to see. I highly recommend it if you’re in the mood for something fun and a little different!
Circling back to the beginning of this blog, I still NEED to see Chicago. I also recently discovered that Cabaret has been revived on Broadway and is currently starring Adam Lambert! I’ve wanted to see Cabaret since high school. I have to act quickly, though, because his run is supposed to end in March. I need to stay more in tune with Broadway news! I’m adding on to the list of 2025 goals…
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