For being the greatest love story ever told, "Romeo & Juliet" has an incredibly tragic ending. Upon seeing her lover deceased in her family's crypt, Juliet Capulet stabs herself with his dagger and joins him in death. But ... what if it didn't have to end that way? In the hilarious new musical, "& Juliet," Shakespeare's wife, Anne Hathaway, takes the quill and rewrites the fates of the famed star-crossed lovers. What follows is a toe-tapping, head-bopping, feel-good musical that has taken Broadway by storm. Here are our top four reasons to see this "perfect" Olivier Award-winning musical.
Top Reasons to See "& Juliet" on Broadway
"& Juliet" is sure to "blow" you away. Here's why you need to grab tickets to this joyous new musical.
1. A killer soundtrack featuring pop's biggest hits
What do Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, Katy Perry and Ariana Grande all have in common? Some of their biggest hits were co-written by one incredibly talented producer: Max Martin. Whether you're a Millennial or Gen Z, this Swedish songwriter was the driving force behind the soundtrack to your childhood. Winner of five Grammy Awards, including Producer of the Year, Martin has written or co-written 27 Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles; 25 of which he has produced or co-produced — an all-time record for the chart. It's because of these remarkable accolades that his "larger than life" catalog also soundtracks Juliet's journey of self-discovery in David West Read's ("Schitt's Creek") modern and fun-filled adaptation. Just try to resist the urge to sing along out loud ...
2. A fantastic story that puts female empowerment center stage
With a little (OK, a lot of) persuading from his better half, Shakespeare gives Juliet the happy ending she's always deserved — proving sometimes all it takes is a woman's touch. (Actually, in a fun instance of life imitating art, it was Martin's wife who suggested he make a catalog of songs into a musical!) Originally a character defined by her incredibly brief fling (four days, to be exact) and positioned as a foolish young girl who doesn't know any better, Juliet is remixed here as a smart, independent and capable heroine who takes her future into her own hands. Her quest to find her own happiness and not be dictated by the men around her transforms fiction's most famous naïve lovebird into a headstrong and determined role model.
"It’s important that young girls have someone to look up to, to be influenced by, and I really feel that Juliet could really be the inspiration that they need," original West End Juliet Miriam-Teak Lee told Opening Night back in 2019. "To know that they can do anything they put their mind to, that they can be in the driving seat of their own life and that there is no limit to their greatness!"
3. An inspiring tale of love and acceptance
Despite what I've said above, "& Juliet" is far from cynical about love. In fact, it celebrates it — in all its iterations, raising up traditionally marginalized voices along the way. As Juliet is learning to cultivate a sense of self-love, her best friend May is also on a journey of self-acceptance. As a non-binary person, they struggle to find place and peace in a binary world — a pursuit that includes finding romance where they least expect it. The same can absolutely be said for the lucky man who wins May's heart, but saying more will start putting this blog in spoiler territory. Nevertheless, inspirational at its core, the show's portrayal of May is incredibly heartwarming: allowing a non-binary character and their story to be just as important as everything else onstage and showing that there is such thing as a happy ending for audience members with experiences such as theirs.
4. A bold new spin on Shakespeare
Shakespeare is no stranger to the Great White Way. From "West Side Story" to "Kiss Me, Kate," the Bard has graced Broadway stages in musical fashion many times over. But not once has Will been so harshly scrutinized and, ultimately, rejected. Juliet is given a new lease on life that she's never had before because ... well, she's never been allowed to live. "A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life" — her fate is already sealed before she ever appears on stage. By letting Anne take a swing at things, "& Juliet" fiercely goes where no Shakespeare adaptation has dared gone before ... and it's all the better for it.
"& Juliet" Broadway Tickets
We're "confident" you'll fall in love with "& Juliet." (No poison or dagger required!) You can get amazing seats for "& Juliet" on Broadway (backed by a 100% buyer guarantee) with Undercover Tourist. Check out our "& Juliet" on Broadway page for a full schedule of dates and times.
- & Juliet Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, 2:00pm - Stephen Sondheim Theatre, New York, NY
- & Juliet Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, 7:00pm - Citizens Bank Opera House, Boston, MA
- & Juliet Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, 7:30pm - Stephen Sondheim Theatre, New York, NY
- & Juliet Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, 7:00pm - Stephen Sondheim Theatre, New York, NY
- & Juliet Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, 7:00pm - Citizens Bank Opera House, Boston, MA
- & Juliet Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, 8:00pm - Citizens Bank Opera House, Boston, MA
- & Juliet Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, 2:00pm - Citizens Bank Opera House, Boston, MA
- & Juliet Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, 8:00pm - Citizens Bank Opera House, Boston, MA
- & Juliet Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, 1:00pm - Citizens Bank Opera House, Boston, MA
- & Juliet Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, 6:30pm - Citizens Bank Opera House, Boston, MA
- & Juliet Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, 7:00pm - Stephen Sondheim Theatre, New York, NY
- & Juliet Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, 7:00pm - Citizens Bank Opera House, Boston, MA
- & Juliet Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, 2:00pm - Stephen Sondheim Theatre, New York, NY
- & Juliet Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, 7:00pm - Citizens Bank Opera House, Boston, MA
- & Juliet Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, 7:30pm - Stephen Sondheim Theatre, New York, NY
How Long Is the "& Juliet" Broadway Show?
The run time of "& Juliet" is two hours and 30 minutes, including one intermission.
Tips for Seeing "& Juliet"
We have a few tips for seeing "& Juliet" live:
- Buy "& Juliet" tickets early for the best selection.
- Use A View From My Seat to find the seats with the best view of the stage.
- Head to the stage door after the show. Though not guaranteed for every performance, you can wait for some of the cast members to come out and sign your Playbill.
- Head to the Circle in the Square Theatre to see "Romeo + Juliet" starring Kit Connor ("Heartstopper") and Rachel Zegler ("West Side Story") for the ultimate double feature.
Are you ready to get "& Juliet" Broadway tickets or tickets for the "& Juliet" traveling tour? Find great seats for "& Juliet" and other Broadway shows (as well as hotels and other NYC attractions) through Undercover Tourist.
Related: The 10 Best Broadway Shows for Kids