Three words describe the musical “& Juliet:” comical, creative, and imaginative.
Offering a fresh and playful reimagining of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” the North American tour of the Broadway musical “& Juliet,” asks audiences to consider what might have happened if Juliet chose to live rather than die for her “star-crossed” lover.
Currently showing at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, “& Juliet” runs through Sunday, Jan. 25.
Juliet (Fabiola Caraballo Quijada) and Romeo (Joseph Torres) swing from the moon during a musical number in “Juliet” at the Broward Center for Performing Arts, playing through Sunday, Jan. 25. (Photo Credit to Evan Zimmerman)
By adding a humorous, modern, and musical twist to the classic, this story gives Juliet what she never had in the original: the freedom to discover herself and make her own choices.
The story is narrated and guided by a contemporary William Shakespeare (CJ Eldred) and his wife, Anne Hathaway (Crystal Kellogg), whose witty back-and-forth banter is both humorous and relatable.
Their dynamic realistically portrays husband-and-wife disagreements, caused by Anne’s insistence on rewriting the ending of her husband’s famous tragedy. In her version, Juliet takes control of her own fate, challenging Shakespeare’s original vision.
Cue the music. It becomes obvious that a pop soundtrack is going to seamlessly fit into the narrative from one of the opening numbers, “I Want It That Way” by the Backstreet Boys.
Fabiola Caraballo Quijada showcases her triple-threat talents as a dancer, singer, and actor while hanging from the chandelier in her role as Juliet in the North American Tour of "& Juliet." (Photo Credit to Evan Zimmerman)
Using Top 40 pop songs from the 2000s that were written and produced by Max Martin, the Swedish producer gave his extensive catalogue to create the soundtrack to this jukebox musical.
Songs made famous by Britney Spears, Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, P!nk, Bon Jovi, and others are cleverly woven into the script, enhancing the character development and adding to the narrative. This concept creates an experience that feels both familiar and compelling.
Eighteen-year-old Fabiola Caraballo
Quijada, a recent Texas high school graduate, according to the program,
delivered a standout performance as Juliet. She set the tone early with a
powerful rendition of “…Baby One More Time,” immediately establishing her
strong stage presence and vocal confidence that followed through the play. Even during moments of continuous movement, or swinging from a chandelier, she proves herself as a triple-threat performer.
The production offered a feminist reimagining of a Shakespearean story, while keeping the characters with the same traits as originally intended. The dialogue is distinctly modern by using language that was funny and relatable, yet the script pays homage to Shakespeare through moments of iambic pentameter.
With familiar modern tropes, from marital disagreements and a daughter’s defiance of parental expectations, to moments that acknowledge LGBTQ+ struggles and awareness, it becomes timely and engaging.
François (Noah Marlowe) and May (Nico Ochoa) perform during "& Juliet" at the Broward Center for Performing Arts. (Courtesy of Evan Zimmerman)
The addition of May (Nico Ochoa), the nonbinary character serves as Juliette’s closest confidant. But there’s a weakness here both in the script and in the portrayal. In both cases, the character could have been developed further, Nonetheless their presence remains an important form of representation within contemporary theater.
Kellogg’s performance as Shakespeare’s wife is particularly noteworthy. She provides a strong female perspective and serves as a guiding voice for Juliet, actively inserting herself into the story she is rewriting. In doing so, Anne becomes both narrator and participant, keeping the plot active and engaging while helping to drive the story forward.
A recent graduate of University of Miami’s Musical Theatre Program, Joseph Torres, plays a version of Romeo who wears a leather jacket and embodies a rockstar persona. Torres has the looks and the attitude to match.
Jennifer Weber’s high-energy choreography relies on hip-hop inspired movement that complements the pop soundtrack. The dance numbers add movement and dramatics, without overpowering the scenes.
As the show closes with the final number of “Roar,” the theater feels more like a pop concert than a stage performance.
With the audience on their feet, leaning closer to the stage, and clapping along with the cast, “& Juliet” creates an environment that feels immersive and electric– proof that sometimes, rewriting the ending can make all the difference.
IF YOU GOWHAT: North American tour of “& Juliet,” at the Broward Center for Performing ArtsWHEN: Tuesday, Jan. 13 through Sunday, Jan. 25.
WHERE: 201 SW 5th Ave., Fort Lauderdale
TICKET: $60 to $244
INFORMATION: https://andjulietbroadway.com
