By Shari Barrett
Featuring songs compiled by the legendary Grammy-winning songwriter/producer Max Martin (and Friends), a cleverly written book by David West Read, the Emmy-winning writer from “Schitt’s Creek,” thoroughly entertaining direction by Luke Sheppard, and energetic choreography by Emmy-Award winner Jennifer Weber, & Juliet opened on Broadway in November 2022, where it continues playing to sold-out crowds and breaking box office records. The hilarious new musical flips the script on the greatest love story ever told by asking, “What would happen if Juliet didn’t end it all over Romeo?”
Juliet’s new story bursts to life through a playlist of pop anthems as iconic as her name, including “Baby One More Time,” “Since U Been Gone‚” “Roar,” “Larger Than Life‚” “That’s The Way It Is,” and “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” which are incorporated into the storyline to perfectly match what the characters are going through as Juliet discovers the self-confidence to keep from getting married to satisfy her parents and not be sent to a nunnery.
Triple-threat performers (including several & Juliet Broadway veterans) lift the entire production to star-studded perfection. The tale is narrated by none other than Shakespeare himself (Corey Mach) and his wife Anne Hathaway (Teal Wicks) who urges its rewriting to give his tragic play a happy ending for Juliet. These two well-matched performers will easily have you believing they are married in real life given their back-and-forth wordplay and how they settle disagreements through plot-affirming songs.
Other astounding lead cast members include the superlative Rachel Sione Webb as Juliet who morphs from heartbreak singing “Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely” (by The Backstreet Boys) to standing on her own two feet, realizing her power by explosively singing “The eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire ’cause I am a champion” from “Roar” by Katy Perry. And along the way, Juliet moves to Paris where her Nurse Angélique (Kathryn Allison) reconnects with Duke Lance (amazing baritone Paul-Jordan Jansen) whose son, François Du Bois (Mateus Leite Cardono) is on his own journey of self-discovery after meeting Juliet’s best friend May (Nick Drake).
But when Shakespeare realizes how his wife has turned his famous tragedy upside down, he sends her off to change her dress so he can re-write Romeo back into the story by using “He drank a sleeping potion, not poison!” as his justification. Brilliantly portrayed by Romeo originator Ben Jackson Walker as a rock star wanting to reconnect with his much-loved, recently lost wife, leads to one of the musical highlights of the production with Romeo, Lance, François, May, and Shakespeare as the Du Bois Boys donning silver metallic costumes (designed by Paloma Young) and launching into an athletic rendition of the Backstreet Boys “Everybody” by getting the entire audience to join in by “throwing your hands in the air and waving them like you didn’t care!” Lighting designer Howard Hudson and set designer Soutra Gilmour dazzle the audience in many ways with all the colors of the rainbow!
Kudos to the entire production team, especially North American Tour music director Andrew Cerullo who conducts an eight-member orchestra to sound like a full symphony, for such a fun and cleverly presented jukebox musical. And after all, don’t we all wish Juliet (as well as Romeo) was given a second chance to be in love and live longer? But what if a strong and self-confident Juliet realizes she can stand on her own two feet in life and not deal with “Oops, I did it again” by getting involved with someone else after just 3 days? I loved the entire production and salute such strong performances by the entire cast! So break free of the balcony scene and get into this romantic comedy that proves there’s life after Romeo. The only thing tragic would be missing it.
& Juliet continues at Center Theatre Group’s Ahmanson Theatre, 135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles 90012, through Sunday, September 7 with tickets starting at $47.15, available at Audience Services at (213) 628-2772 online at CenterTheatreGroup.org or in person at the onsite box office. The production moves to Segerstrom Hall, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa 92626 from Tuesday, September 9 to Sunday, September 21, 2025. Tickets start at $44 available by calling (714) 556-2787 or online at SCFTA.org
The Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival continues its 22nd season with Independent Shakespeare Co. (Indie Shakes) presents a new adaptation of Christopher Marlowe’s dark masterpiece, Doctor Faustus, directed by Indie Shakes Artistic Director Melissa Chalsma and starring her husband David Melville in the title role. Performances continue Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 7 p.m. through Sunday, August 31 outdoors in Griffith Park. All Festival performances and events are free to the public.
Knowledge is power, and Dr. Faustus wants it all. The mysterious scholar sets his sights on mastering the dark arts and strikes a deal with the beguiling Mephistopheles to make the magic happen. In this playful, seductive fever dream, Faustus conjures legends, dines with emperors, and throws down with the Seven Deadly Sins portrayed by talented ensemble members who take on many roles. Packed with spectacle and supernatural flair, Marlowe’s classic becomes a satirical and soul-stirring thrill ride where unchecked ego meets ultimate consequence.
The cast features Patrick Batiste, Brent Charles, Daniel DeYoung, Natalia Echeverria, Carene Rose Mekertichyan, David Melville, Kalean Ung, Erick Valenzuela de Campos and Isaac Ybarra. Scenic design by Maya Channer includes a trap door for necessary descents into Hell, with Lighting Design by Bosco Flanagan and creative Costume Design by Yasamin Sarabipour.
Seating is General Admission on an open grassy area, first come, first served, in the dell at the Top of The Old Zoo area of Griffith Park. Free RSVPs help ensure there’s space for everyone to enjoy the evening. Bring a picnic and arrive early to enjoy it before the show or at intermission, and a blanket to sit on or low seat beach chairs (allowed behind the blanket area). Please call for accessible seating. Free parking at Merry Go Round Lot 2 & 3. For further information, please visit wwwindiehsakes.org or call 818-710-6306.
In an unprecedented convergence of two venerated dance companies who share Los Angeles DNA, ate9 and Jacob Jonas The Company will collaborate for the first time to create an evening of dance and live music called FOG. The special program showcases two new world premieres, “Soon After” choreographed by Danielle Agami, founder and house choreographer for ate9, and “Grip,” choreographed by Jacob Jonas, founder and choreographer for Jacob Jonas The Company. Original live music by Yuka Honda will premiere with “Soon After,” and an original score by Live Footage premieres with “Grip.”
This evening, which celebrates two of Los Angeles’ most original contemporary dance voices, is about convergence – putting something on stage that feels human, instinctual, and real. A slowing down. A sharpening of sensation. A collective breath before something shifts. Fog forms when conditions meet just right. When warmth hits cold, when what is seen is briefly obscured, so something deeper can be felt. This blending of artists, movement, and sound allow for new perspectives to emerge.
Performances take place Friday, August 29 and Saturday, August 30 at 8 p.m. at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Blvd. in Culver City 90232. Run time is 100 minutes with one intermission. Tickets start at $55 available at www.jacobjonas.org/tickets
