In the &Juliet Musical Rom-Com Juliet and Her BFFs Flip the Script at the Kennedy Center
&Juliet
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Jordan Wright
December 23, 2024
The company of the North American Tour of & JULIET (Photo/Matthew Murphy)
Curious theatregoers are wondering, what happened to Romeo? Not to worry, readers, Romeo is in the house in full. But in this switcheroo, Anne Hathaway rewrites the classic play in which the ladies take charge. What if Juliet didn’t kill herself? So move over, Will, these ladies are on fire! In this female empowerment story, familiar pop hits from Max Martin, who wrote massive multi-platinum tracks for pop princesses like Taylor Swift, Pink, Katy Perry, Brittany Spears, Kelly Clarkson and Ariana Grande, collaborates on the music with fellow hitmakers tweaking the tunes to fit the plot. Speaking of the plot, sweet Juliet along with her kickass besties, Anne Hathaway as April and identity-confused May, “I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman”, get to flip the script on our pal Romeo, here self-portrayed as an insecure dolt who’s still madly in love with Juliet. Yes! He comes back to life too.
Corey Mach and Teal Wicks (Photo/Matthew Murphy)
You’ll need to suspend all notions of ye olde Shakespearean plots and dialogue because this iteration is a rock concert on steroids. To picture how it’s presented, imagine your English Renaissance characters sporting Jacobean hip-hop gear while breakdancing and pop-locking, krumping and kicking to a ferociously fierce beat provided by the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra who collaborate with the production’s own musicians.
While feisty Anne and Will trade barbs and witty quips – the adorable Will occasionally stealing back the plot from her – romance abounds. It’s a modern-day rom-com cum musical with the known-world characters finally having their say. Nurse, Angelique, is no shrinking violet either. In fact, she has her share of some of the snarkiest lines. It’s a huge, multi-diverse cast with killer voices, belting out 29 mega hits that keep the audience dancing in their seats. Because who can sit still for deliciously hot chart-toppers like “Oops, I Did It Again”, “Teenage Dream/Break Free”, “Roar”, “I Kissed a Girl”, “Baby One More Time” and “Whataya Want From Me” that François duets in a word-duel with May.
This multi-award-winning show is big fun! Catch it while you can!
Kathryn Allison (Photo/Matthew Murphy)
Directed by Luke Sheppard with Rachel Simone Webb as Juliet; Teal Wicks as Anne; Corey Mach as Shakespeare; Nick Drake as May; Kathryn Allison as Angélique; Michael Canu as Romeo; Paul-Jordan Jansen as Romeo; Mateus Leite Cardoso as François; Naima Alakham as Lady Capulet/Nell; Nella Cole as Eleanor/Benvolio; Camille Brooks as Judith; Lois Ellise as Susanna; Ishmael Gonzalez as Gregory; Kenneth Onesimus Goubran as Augustine; Shelby Griswold as Lucy; Christopher Robert Hanford as Henry; Jourdan Ibe as Lennox; Josh Jordan as Richard; Nichole Lamb as Margaret; Yoshi Maysonet as Dion; Usman Ali Mughal as Lord Capulet/Sly; Jaydon Nget as Kempe; Kyra Smith as Titania; and Francisco Thurston as Cuthbert.
Music and Lyrics by Max Martin and Friends; Book by David West Read; Music Supervisor, Orchestrations and Arrangements by Bill Sherman; Choreographed by Jennifer Weber; Scenic Design by Soutra Gilmore; Costume Design by Paloma Young; Lighting Design by Howard Hudson; Sound Design by Gareth Owen; Video & Projection Design by Andrzej Goulding; Hair/Wig & Makeup Design by J. Jared Janas; Dance Captain, Francisco Thurston.
Through January 5th in the Opera House at the Kennedy Center, 2700 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20566. For tickets and information call the box office at 202.467.4600 or visit the website at www.Kennedy-Center.org