‘& Juliet’: Shakespeare’s famous protagonist finally has it her way

Celina Colby

Celina Colby is an arts and travel reporter with a fondness for Russian novels.... VIEW BIO

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“Romeo and Juliet” has been shorthand for epic, tragic love for centuries. Whether it’s Shakespearean storytellers or Leonardo DiCaprio starring in the story, we’re all bracing ourselves for that familiar ending. The musical “& Juliet,” a Broadway tour production landing in Boston next month, flips this classic ending on its head. What if instead of ending it all over a boy, Juliet just moved on?

Created by Emmy award-winning writer David West Read, known for his work on Schitt’s Creek, and Grammy award-winning songwriter and producer Max Martin, this tale of empowerment gives Juliet a second chance.

Teal Wicks, Rachel Simone Webb, Nick Drake and Kathryn Allison in the North American Tour-of “& JULIET.” PHOTO: Matthew Murphy

“You read the play and you notice how tragic it is. You notice how deep the story goes. And it’s as if we take the story right at the very end and see Juliet make a different choice,” says Rachel Simone Webb, who plays Juliet. “It’s a comedy and it’s a happy ending.”

There are several layers to the story. The larger frame of the narrative is a dialogue between Shakespeare and his wife, Anne Hathaway. After seeing “Romeo and Juliet,” Anne suggests an alternative ending that’s more friendly to the young protagonist. As she explains her idea, Juliet takes the stage and the narrative plays out. The multi-layered approach, witty script and original-ish story sets “& Juliet” apart from more typical biographical jukebox musicals.

The book is completely original and modernized, although the characters occasionally quote the original Shakespeare. The show is punctuated with pop hits from Martin’s catalog, including “I Want it That Way,” made famous by the Backstreet Boys, “…Baby One More Time,” originally written for Britney Spears, “That’s the Way It Is,” from Celine Dion’s repertoire and many more.

Mateus Leite Cardoso as François and Rachel Simone Webb as Juliet in the North American Tour of “& Juliet.” PHOTO: MATTHEW MURPHY

“& Juliet” is also modernized through representation. The diverse cast features talent of many backgrounds and a number of queer and LGBTQIA+ storylines have been incorporated into the narrative. Shakespeare was known for playing with boundaries, comedic moments and blurred gender lines, so the changes are a natural fit.

“It’s important for different people to represent these roles, because it shows that everybody has a story to tell, and everybody can tell it in different ways,” says Webb.

“& Juliet” is presented by Broadway in Boston at the Citizens Opera House Nov. 5-17.

On the heels of the American Repertory Theater’s “Romeo and Juliet” that used the original text earlier this year, “& Juliet” offers a completely different take on the classic. A take dotted with beloved Millennial-era pop songs.

“I hope the audience leaves smiling,” says Webb. “I hope that they leave the show and go to their family and go to their friends and say, ‘I just had an experience that opened my mind and opened my heart.’”