Grand Avenue positively shimmered with anticipation as the Ahmanson Theatre lifted the curtain on Broadway’s most effervescent jukebox musical, “& Juliet”—and what followed was less a show than a glitter-cannon of theatrical joy. This isn’t just another pop-fueled stage adaptation; it’s a full-blown revolution in sequins, asking the audacious question: What if Juliet had chosen herself instead of tragedy? Rather than surrendering her teenage life for Romeo, this Juliet decides Verona’s toxic melodrama isn’t worth the heartbreak and heads to Paris with her girlfriends to write her own story. What begins as a cheeky feminist twist on Shakespeare becomes an exuberant anthem of self-determination, sisterhood, and reinvention—propelled by the unstoppable catalog of Grammy-winning hitmaker Max Martin.

“A glitter-cannon of theatrical joy—smart, sharp, and deliriously contemporary.”

At the center of it all, Rachel Simone Webb delivers nothing short of a star-making turn. She doesn’t just play Juliet—she reinvents her, marrying luminous charisma with a voice that sails through Martin’s pop juggernauts as though Britney, Celine, and Kelly Clarkson had been waiting all along for a Shakespearean vessel. Webb takes what could have been clever gimmickry and elevates it into something electric, heartfelt, and downright inevitable. She is the glowing heartbeat of this production. The ensemble matches her fire, igniting each number with joyously unbridled energy. Whether riffing on the Backstreet Boys or unleashing Clarkson’s powerhouse belts, the cast reclaims radio staples and infuses them with theatrical verve. These are not karaoke covers but character-driven reinventions, each one a mini revelation.

Luke Sheppard’s direction keeps the momentum humming, balancing Shakespearean cheek with contemporary swagger. The transitions flow with machine-like precision yet pulse with vitality, stitching together Martin’s playlist—“Since U Been Gone,” “Roar,” “Baby One More Time,” “Larger Than Life,” “That’s The Way It Is,” and “Can’t Stop the Feeling!”—into a narrative that feels improbably seamless.

Jennifer Weber’s choreography is its own form of pyrotechnics. Her kaleidoscopic, Emmy-winning movement turns the Ahmanson stage into a kinetic pop fantasia, never sacrificing storytelling for spectacle. Add in dazzling costumes and lush lighting design, and the show becomes a visual celebration of liberation—equal parts music video and Shakespearean remix.

What makes “& Juliet” remarkable is how it transcends the jukebox label. Where most musicals ransack the pop archives for nostalgia, this one pulses with immediacy—smarter, sharper, and brimming with now. It honors tradition without being shackled to it, crafting instead a triumphant, sequined alternative ending. There’s no tragic death here, only pure theatrical euphoria. It’s Broadway’s answer to the ultimate feel-good playlist: cheeky, cathartic, and exactly the tonic our times crave. Crucially, the production never apologizes for its pop sensibilities. It doubles down, delivering them with such sincerity and polish that resistance is futile.

“& Juliet” is more than a night of jukebox escapism—it’s a pop manifesto of self-discovery, friendship, and the radical joy of choosing your own story. Miss it at your peril. You’ll leave the theater glitter-dusted, heart-lifted, and entirely convinced you can conquer the world—because in Juliet’s universe, you can.

— Sachin Bhatt

“& Juliet” plays at the Center Theatre Group’s Ahmanson Theatre through September 7 before transferring to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, September 9–21. Tickets at centertheatregroup.org.