This week, &Juliet presented by Broadway in Cincinnati, is at the Aronoff Center for the Arts. Shakespeare’s’ tragedy becomes a girl-power anthem in this modern jukebox musical.
&Juliet raises the question: What would happen if you were free to write your own ending? What if Juliet doesn’t kill herself? What if she moves on to have a fulfilling life? And, what if her world doesn’t revolve around a guy? All these questions are brought to Shakespeare by his wife, Anne Hathaway (yes, that was really her name). Anne finds a rare night away from home and motherhood to venture to the theater for opening night of her husband’s newest hit, Romeo and Juliet. Anne enters just as Shakespeare has found his ending. This ending, however, is not good enough for Anne. She soon grabs the quill and takes over the story leading us on a hilarious coming of age journey. Not in Verona, but in Paris.
&Juliet features 32 songs by Max Martin and a rotating group of collaborators (officially credited as Max Martin and Friends), ranging from the 90s to today and including songs made popular by Robyn, the Backstreet Boys, Katy Perry, Demi Lovato, P!nk and more. This pop romp is perfect for the music lover in everyone.
The Story of &Juliet
&Juliet has Anne Hathaway (Teal Wicks) fighting with her husband, William Shakespeare (Christopher Robert Hanford), for a happier ending for Juliet. Instead of dying, Juliet (Rachel Simone Webb) learns that Romeo is a melodramatic jerk with many other lovers, and so she runs away to Paris and quickly gets entangled in another romance. Rachel Simone Webb brings a power to Juliet’s naivety and innocence. She shows audiences that there is strength in finding yourself and learning along the way. Although Hathaway and Shakespeare still at times hold the quill, Juliet is writing her own story.
Juliet’s journey to Paris wouldn’t be complete without her besties tagging along. Juliet’s Nurse Angelique (Kathryn Allison), May (Ishmael Gonzalez) her new age-appropriate best friend, and of course April (Teal Wicks) who is really Anne Hathway as she writes herself into the story. Although this gang of dreamers thinks Paris will hold a new and simple life for them, they soon fall back into the same old story. Love triangles, ex-lovers, and star-crossed lovers return as the pages to this new story unfold.
Great Performances
Angelique (Kathryn Allison) runs into an old affair, Lance (Paul-Jordan Jansen), and has to the make a decision; Is he is worthy of her falling a second time? This pair brings an added layer of comedy to the stage with the awkwardness that can come when scorned lovers still feel lust for one another. Allison’s vocals are impeccable. Her ability to add comedy through her tone without faltering in the musical integrity of the number is unmatched. This, contrasted with Jansen’s powerful operatic style mirrors the contrast between the unlikely pair. Their mash up of “Teenage Dream” and “Break Free” has audiences rolling in their seats. There was not a dry eye in the house and that was from sheer laughter.
Another unlikely pair comes from Francois Dubois (Mateus Leite Cardoso), lovingly referred to by Juliet as “Frankie DaBoi” and May (Ishmael Gonzalez). Although Juliet and Frankie have already concocted a plan of marriage to prevent one from going to a nunnery and the other from joining the military, Frankie finds true love in a most unexpected place. Frankie and May created my favorite couple in the production. The sincerity we feel in the uncertainty from both characters creates a breathtaking moment when they finally give in to their true desires. The vocals of Cardoso and Gonzalez perfectly compliment each other in fan favorite numbers like “I Kissed a Girl” and “Whataya Want From Me”.
&Juliet‘s Many Showstoppers
Another show stopping number comes from the makeshift boyband created by Shakespeare as he tries to hijack his own show. Shakespeare (Christopher Robert Hanford ), Lance (Paul-Jordan Jansen), Romeo (Michael Canu), Frankie (Mateus Leite Cardoso) and May (Ishmael Gonzalez) give us the disgustingly over the top boy band number that audiences have been craving since they first entered the theater and saw a jukebox sitting on the stage. With flashy costumes, 90s dance moves, and 5-part harmonies, “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” is truly a show stopping number. Audience members were on their feet dancing and singing. It felt like we were at a boy band concert at the peak of the 90s. Every audience member was screaming for more!
Overall
&Juliet gives a concert experience that makes you truly feel like a part of the show. Audience participation and dancing encouraged. This is the perfect opportunity to bring your young adult, pop lover, or Shakespearean scholar to the theater for an evening of laughter and smiles. The spectacle of this show is truly mesmerizing. You may literally leave covered in glitter! Incredible costumes, stadium level lighting, and hilariously dramatic interpretations of pop superstars, &Juliet is a show you can’t afford to miss.
Tickets to &Juliet
&Juliet will play at the Aronoff Center from April 8 – April 20, 2025:
- Tuesdays – Fridays at 7:30 PM
- Saturdays at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM
- Sundays at 1:00 PM and 6:30 PM.
Tickets start at $43 and can be found online at CincinnatiArts.org, by phone at 513.621.ARTS or in person at the Aronoff Center Box Office downtown.
For groups of 10 or more, contact the group sales department at 513.369.4363. Performance schedule, prices and cast are subject to change without notice.
For more information, please visit BroadwayInCincinnati.com
