**** Highly Recommended Have you ever wondered... what if Cathy married Heathcliff instead of what’s-his-name … or what if Rose pulled Jack onto that door? What if Juliet decides she’s over Romeo? That’s the premise of & Juliet, a charming musical about a girl who takes back her power – even from the greatest writer of all time. It’s chock full of pop hits by Max Martin, probably one of the most prolific songwriters of all time, making it one of the best jukebox musicals I’ve seen in a long time. 4 Spotlights
Speaking of jukebox music, my guest Helen wondered if they’d had to pay royalties on all the pop hits she heard. The answer is no, since Max Martin wrote them, he can use them. Martin has written/produced songs for the Backstreet Boy, Britney Spears, Katy Perry, Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, Celine Dion, NSYNC, Justin Timberlake, Kelly Clarkson, Pink, Demi Lovato, Adam Lambert, Bon Jovi and more.
I heard six Backstreet Boys hits in & Juliet - I Want It That Way, Shape of My Heart, Larger Than Life, Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely, As Long As You Love Me and Everybody (Backstreet’s Back); six Britney Spears hits - Baby One More Time, Oops I Did It Again, Overprotected, I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman and Stronger; and two each from Katy Perry and Ariana Grande - Roar, Teenage Dream/Break Free and Problem. Then there was Justin Timberlake’s Can’t Stop the Feeling, Kelly Clarkson’s Since U Been Gone and Celine Dion’s That’s The Way It Is.
Tour audiences don’t often get to see the actor who originated the role on Broadway, so everyone should be thrilled to see Rachel Simone Webb in the role of Juliet. Honestly, the role might have been written for her, so we’re doubly lucky. She has remarkable stage presence AND a golden voice.
This is an enthusiastic, talented cast in a very energetic show with a lot of dancing. Kudos to choreographer Jennifer Weber. By the way, the opening night audience seemed to know every song, every dance.
William Shakespeare (Corey Mach) just finished the final scene in his new play, in which the leads end up dead. Nobody is particularly happy with that, especially Anne Hathaway (Teal Wick), who’s come up from Stratford to track her husband down. She hates the ending - Will insists I Want It That Way. With a humph, Anne changes the story.
Romeo (Michael Canu) is dead when Juliet wakes up. She is so over him, she’s ready for an adventure, but her parents are threatening her with a nunnery. With a little help from Anne, Juliet, her bestie, May (Nick Drake) and her nurse, Angélique (Kathryn Allison) take off for Paris.
In Paris, Juliet meets a guy named François Dubois (Mateus Leite Cardoso) but she calls him Frankie de Bois. They’re barely acquainted when he proposes. Juliet isn’t really interested in getting married again, but that nunnery threat is real. Meanwhile, Shakespeare decides if Anne can change the story so can he – and suddenly Romeo is alive again and on the way to Paris.
Meanwhile, when François meets May, there’s instant attraction. However, François’ father, Lance (Paul Jordan Jansen), wants to get the de Bois Band back together. Lance takes one look at Angélique and falls.
I loved the vaguely Elizabethan but still mod costumes designed by Paloma Young. In Paris, Juliet becomes a fashionista in a darling denim jumpsuit.
The & Juliet ensemble: Naima Alakham, Camille Brooks, Nella Cole, Lois Ellise, Ishmael Gonzalez, Kenneth Onesimus Goubran, Shelby Griswold, Christopher Robert Hanford, Jourdan Ibe, Josh Jordan, Nicole Lamb, Yoshi Maysonet, Usman Ali Mughal, Jaydon Nget, Kyra Smith and Francisco Thurston.
The & Juliet orchestra includes Andre Cerullo (Conductor/Keyboard), Reagan Casteel (Associate Conductor/Keyboard), Clay Nordhill (Guitar), Tabri Lake (Bass), Zack Albetta (Drums), Roberta Freier (Violin/Viola), Cello (Tahirah Whittington).
& Juliet was written by David West Read with music and lyrics by Max Martin & Friends. It is directed by Luke Sheppard, choreographed by Jennifer Weber. It premiered in Manchester, England in 2019, then moved to London’s West End. After its North American premiere in Toronto, it opened on Broadway in 2022. Everywhere the show has played, it’s broken box office records playing to sold-out crowds.
& Juliet runs through December 15th at Broadway in Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph, Chicago. Running time is two hours, 40 minutes, with an intermission. Performances are Tuesday at 7:00 pm; Wednesday at 1:00 & 7:00 pm; Thursday at 7:00 pm; Fridays at 7:30 pm; Saturdays at 2:00 & 7:30 pm; Sundays at 1:00 pm with a 6:30 pm performance on December 8th. Tickets range from $40-$180. FYI www.BroadwayInChicago.com