Broadway is a place people go to get swept away into the world of singing, dancing, and storytelling. The theater has been around for centuries, with new productions being added to its repertoire constantly. Flashback to the year 2022. Broadway had a new book full of stories itching to be performed, one of which was a progressive, comedic chapter in Broadway’s book titled & Juliet. While the production premiered a few years prior, the idea of the show had recently gained popularity in the summer of 2025. The cast was sharing news and keeping up with trends on social media, a clever way to connect with their young audience. Joey Fatone of the American pop band NSYNC was seen returning to the Broadway stage. Social media faces also made their way out of the screen and onto the stage. Charli D’Amelio is big on social media and known for her dancing, something she can channel through the curtains. Cheryl Porter, a popular vocal coach on social media, made her debut in August. From seeing the faces on glowing screens or hearing their voices when walking to school to watching them perform from so close is eye-opening.
The show was written by the Emmy award-winning Canadian writer, David West Read, better known for his work on Schitt’s Creek. & Juliet is a jukebox, so instead of writing new music specific to the show’s plot, it takes advantage of preexisting music, mainly radio, to convey certain emotions throughout the production. On November 17th, 2022, & Juliet made its own Broadway debut. The show’s thematic elements include gender identity, women’s empowerment, and self-discovery. The plot derives from William Shakespeare’s famous work, Romeo and Juliet. The musical matches up with modern-day progressive values, the theme of independence and individuality motivating Juliet and her choices.
The entire premise of the show is quite enjoyable. There are plenty of moments where the performers interact with the audience, which greatly contributes to the experience; much different from other Broadway shows. The show also has a lot of diversity, which, of course, has to do with the plot, but it makes the environment a whole lot more inclusive and motivating. When speaking to Avril Kagan, a student at Mendham High School, who had viewed the show, she stated, “…its very unique and modern… I think its very cool that they were able to incorporate some stars [into] the show. I think that [brings] in bigger audiences.” In contrast to other shows, & Juliet, being a jukebox musical, allows for many viewers in the house to recognize the songs being sung. Avril shared, “‘I’m usually not too much of a fan when it comes to jukebox musicals… [but] it was funny when along the plot, certain songs that are very popular are all of a sudden being sung… So that was a very cool element of it.” This type of show brings in people of all opinions and still keeps them intrigued. It opens up the options. Some people want to have the Broadway experience, but would prefer hearing songs already known to them.
While the show has plenty of amusing qualities, there will, of course, be flaws. When watching, it was quite noticeable that there were a few gaps in the plot or in certain thematic ideas. The philosophy of women’s empowerment is a nice idea on its own, but the way it is executed seems unfinished or “surface-level”. The show does run a bit over, but it was not inherently noticeable. To continue, a few of the characters had arcs that didn’t look to match up with the main idea. Character arcs and development seem to be thrown in there to give different plot points importance.
To be fair, everything in a show is done for a reason, so whether the gaps are enjoyable or not, they were intentional. The chapter about & Juliet is a great one, but it could have benefited from a few edits before publication. The cast seems new and fresh, and it’s magnificent to see faces once seen on a phone on the stage only a bit away. If you’re looking for experience rather than an analysis, & Juliet is worth the price.
Title Created by Google Gemini, then modified by P. Chopra. 9.19.2025
