By Liz Eichler
Broadway in Cincinnati’s newest touring production &Juliet asks: What if Juliet didn’t die at the end of Romeo and Juliet?
That’s the question posed by Shakespeare’s wife, Anne Hathaway (full of sharp wit and real heart by Teal Wicks). She’s had just enough of tragic teenage girls, and his stories of bad marriages. With the kids at home with a sitter, Anne is ready for a rewrite—with more girl power and less dagger.
From there, the show explodes into a glittery jukebox musical fantasy powered by the hits of Max Martin—the Swedish songwriting machine behind everyone from Britney Spears to Katy Perry. If you know and love the music of the early 2000s, you can sing along. Songs like “Since U Been Gone,” “Baby One More Time,” and “Roar” are belted with full pop-star passion and unexpectedly perfect narrative relevance. David West Read (a writer and producer for Schitt’s Creek) is the genius behind the book, amazingly clever, original and current. The songs and story resonate with multiple generations adding a layer of nostalgia to the piece.
The Story of &Juliet
Anne and Will spar over how to spin Juliet’s story. With a golden quill the each provide complication after complication, a trip to Paris, multiple love stories, and both wrestle with definitions of how a lady could spend her life. There is no human antagonist, it is Juliet against her destiny, her parents story for her, or the stars.
We meet Juliet’s bestie, May, Ishmael Gonzalez taking the role on opening night in Cincinnati. In Paris they sneak into a ball and meet Francois du Bois (Mateus Leite Cardoso) and his dad (Paul-Jordan Jansen), priming the audience for “Bois band” jokes.
Performances
Understudy Christopher Robert Hanford steps ino the role of Shakespeare during this Cincinnati run and does not disappoint. He is the pretentious but ultimately good-hearted playwright who meets his match in Anne. Their banter sets the tone: irreverent, clever, and delightfully self-aware.
Rachel Simone Webb shines as Juliet, bringing warmth, humor, and powerhouse vocals to a character who finally gets to chart her own course. Michael Canu’s smoldering (and hilariously dim) Romeo is a riot. Bonus points for Canu, a Cincinnati Conservatory of Music (CCM) grad, who delivers both vocal chops and comic timing.
Other standout performances include Kathryn Allison as the Nurse Angelique—serving diva realness and deep affection—and Paul-Jordan Jansen as Lance, who surprises with his earnest goofiness. Ishmael Gonzalez as May and Mateus Leite Cardoso as Francois offer sweet sincerity and a subplot that’s refreshingly inclusive. The ensemble is tight and energetic, with one particular chorus member Yoshi Maysonet, who’s “riz” jumps off the stage.
The Spectacle
Visually, the production is a feast. The costumes pop with silk shantung and bold colors, mixing period drama with modern flair—like Elizabethan ravewear. Costume designer Paloma Young references both eras with ruffs and doublets, pairing them with chunky soles and bomber jackets. Romeo’s costume is one of the best. The scenery (Soutra Gilmour), lighting (Howard Hudson) and projections (Andrzej Goulding) add fizz to this bubbly evening. One highly effective moment in the sound (Gareth Owen) is when we meet Juliet, and she puts on headphones, allowing the audience to hear the thumping in her head as she internalizes her situation in the crypt.
Themes of &Juliet
At its heart, &Juliet is more than glitter and pop—it’s a joyful reclamation of agency, love, and identity. It is about not following norms, or what our parents/society expects, but charting our own destiny. And it delivers that message with a wink, a twirl, and a soaring key change.
Conclusion
Whether you’re a Shakespeare purist or a Britney superfan, this show will have you smiling, singing, and maybe even rethinking the ending of that tragedy. Don’t miss your chance to see Juliet live her own story—on her own terms. &Juliet is the ultimate ladies’ night out, full of your favorite pop anthems, female empowerment and fun. Pour the wine and dance in your seats–and remember what you were doing in the 2000’s.
Get Your Tickets to &Juliet
&Juliet runs through April 20 at Cincinnati’s Aronoff Center. Get your tickets through this official LINK. It is recommended for ages 8 and up. RUNTIME: 2 hours and 40 minutes with 1 intermission. It usually begins at 7:30 pm, but there are matinees on Saturdays and Sundays — and two shows on Easter Sunday, April 20.
