Review by Chris Heide
Photo by Matthew Murphy
The official Broadway tour of &Juliet is everything you’d expect from a pop-powered retelling of Shakespeare’s classic with glitter, heart, and a soundtrack ripped straight from a millennial’s burned CD’s circa 2002. Infused with the mega-hits of Max Martin (think Britney, Backstreet Boys, Katy Perry, and more), this jukebox musical doesn’t just lean into nostalgia; it does a backflip into it, and the results are dazzling.
A major highlight of the performance I attended was the phenomenal work of two understudies: Shelby Griswold as Anne and Lois Ellise as Juliet. Both women were nothing short of brilliant. They were so committed, charismatic, and vocally strong that you’d never guess they were understudies. Griswold brought sharp comedic timing and warmth to Anne, while Ellise lit up the stage with powerhouse vocals and genuine emotional depth. Understudies don’t often get their due, but these two absolutely deserve the spotlight.
The show’s humor is razor-sharp, often poking fun at itself, Shakespeare, and the overly dramatic tropes of traditional love stories. It’s witty and self-aware in the best way, never taking itself too seriously. The choreography is electric dynamic and tightly executed, creating visual energy that pairs perfectly with the high-octane musical numbers. And yes, the vocals are mostly stellar, though the cast did struggle at times with blending, which resulted in a few moments of disharmony; minor but noticeable in an otherwise tight production.
One unfortunate note (pun intended): audience members, please stop singing along. While it’s understandable that “Since U Been Gone” and “Larger Than Life” ignite every nostalgic nerve, we paid to hear the performers, not tone-deaf karaoke. The show delivers these beloved anthems with new emotional context and powerful vocals; let’s respect that and keep our own performances for the car ride home.
In the end, &Juliet is a vibrant, clever, and emotionally satisfying ride tailor-made for millennials who grew up on these songs and now crave a little more meaning behind them. With a smart script, thrilling choreography, and standout performances (understudies included!), it’s a show that hits all the right notes.