& Juliet

& JULIET is a musical comedy that imagines an alternate ending to Romeo and Juliet in which William Shakespeare, under the influence of his wife, Anne Hathaway, decides to save Juliet from a tragic demise and offer her a second chance at life and love – her way.

A jukebox appears onstage, and the show opens with WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE and his PLAYERS, who form the show’s ensemble, welcoming the audience to the first performance of Romeo and Juliet (Larger Than Life). Shakespeare’s wife, ANNE HATHAWAY, is attending the show on a rare outing from their home in Stratford-UponAvon. Shakespeare announces that he’s written the ending to Romeo and Juliet… except, he’s the only one who likes it. Anne suggests that, maybe, Juliet doesn’t end her own life to be with Romeo and convinces Shakespeare to let her rewrite the ending (I Want It That Way).

In Anne’s version, the play begins when Juliet wakes up and finds Romeo dead. She considers the dagger but chooses to live (…Baby One More Time). At Romeo’s funeral, Juliet discovers Romeo’s other romances, including ROSALINE, PORTIA, and HELENA. CAPULET and LADY CAPULET, Juliet’s parents, announce that they are sending her to a nunnery (Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely).

Back at home, Juliet’s nurse, ANGÉLIQUE, tries to cheer her up as Juliet questions her fate. Juliet’s nonbinary best friend, MAY, joins her. When Shakespeare questions May’s name and identity, Anne puts him in his place by reminding Shakespeare that he basically invented genderbending and May’s gender is really none of his business. Anne then casts herself as another one of Juliet’s friends: APRIL. Though Angélique is reluctant, Juliet and her friends decide to leave Verona for an adventure (Domino). They decide on Paris, and Anne writes their travel into the script (Show Me Love). When they arrive, they decide to attend a Renaissance Ball, thrown for FRANCOIS DUBOIS by his father, LANCE. Francois is being forced by his father to either wed or join the army like the rest of his family.

Anne gets their group into the party, past a FRENCH BOUNCER, and they take over the dance floor (Blow). Francois and May meet before Juliet grabs onto the chandelier, and the party erupts.

In line for the bathrooms, May has an unpleasant experience with the ATTENDANT commenting on their gender identity and then admits to Juliet that they made a connection with a guy on the dance floor, but they don’t want to get their hopes up (I’m Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman). Juliet assures them that she doesn’t think of them as a girl or a boy – just her best friend.

On the way back from the bathroom, Juliet finds Francois alone. They bond over having controlling parents (Overprotected), and Juliet vows to help him stand up to his father. As Lance loses control of his party, he recognizes Angélique. Carried away, Juliet kisses Francois just as May returns (Confident).

The next morning, Angélique wakes up in Lance’s room, and the audience learns of their 1romantic history. Lance wants to begin again with Angélique, but she worries about Juliet (Teenage Dream). Lance encourages her to consider her own happiness (Break Free).

Meanwhile, Francois, nicknamed “Frankie” by Juliet, decides to propose. Juliet isn’t ready to jump into anything serious but accepts the proposal to avoid being sent back to Verona by her parents (Oops!... I Did it Again).

Lance arranges the wedding for the next day, and Anne argues with Shakespeare that the new story is the same as the old one. Once again, Juliet is rushed into marriage with someone she barely knows.

Francois and May’s connection is undeniable (I Kissed a Girl). Anne returns just in time for Shakespeare to inform her that Romeo is alive, and arrives in Paris to a shocked Juliet (It’s My Life).

Romeo confesses his love to Juliet (Love Me Like You Do), but she’s unimpressed. They argue, and BENVOLIO informs Romeo that Juliet has moved on with someone else (Since U Been Gone). Shakespeare thinks that Juliet is being too hard on Romeo, but Anne disagrees. She’s angry with Shakespeare for changing the story to bring Romeo back, but he points out that he created conflict, which all good stories need. Anne snaps his quill in half and leaves.

At DuBois castle, May confronts Francois about their feelings for each other (Whataya Want From Me), but Francois won’t break his promise to Juliet. Romeo and Juliet have a heart-to-heart (One More Try). Romeo tells Juliet that, if she can tell him she doesn’t love him, he’ll leave. Juliet tells him she can’t love him, and he goes, but they are both struggling to understand their feelings (Problem/Can’t Feel My Face). Romeo is ready to walk away, but Shakespeare intervenes. Disguised as the carriage driver, he promises to get Romeo into Francois and Juliet’s wedding. Shakespeare and Romeo masquerade as Francois’s brothers, and they set off to find one more “brother” so the family band can sing at the wedding. Angélique proposes to Lance.

Juliet admits to Anne that she’s still in love with Romeo, but she doesn’t want to let Francois down. Anne encourages her not to settle and shares the struggles in her own marriage to Shakespeare (That’s the Way It Is).

Lady Capulet whisks Juliet away to the wedding, where Francois, Shakespeare, Lance, and Romeo are preparing to perform as their family band. At the last minute, Shakespeare recruits May as the fifth member of the band. Though Francois expresses his doubts to Lance, the show goes on (Everybody aka Backstreet’s Back). Lady Capulet enters with Juliet and Francois sings his vows, serenading her (As Long As You Love Me). Juliet is not impressed. Lance asks if there are any objections to the two being wed, and both Juliet and Francois voice objections. Francois confesses his love, not for Juliet, but for May (It’s Gonna Be Me).

The Capulets threaten to take Juliet back to Verona, but Romeo reveals himself. Shakespeare declares that Juliet must return to Romeo, but Juliet disagrees, calling out her parents for trying to control her, May and Francois for lying to her, and Romeo for assuming she would just get back together with him (Stronger). Upset, she leaves. Lance apologizes to Francois and May (Shape of My Heart).

Angélique comforts Juliet, saying that she’ll always be by her side, and Juliet encourages her nurse to live her own life (F****N’ Perfect). May and Francois apologize to Juliet, who resolves to be confident in herself and her decisions going forward. Juliet, triumphant, rises on the balcony as she and the Players belt out the final number (Roar). Shakespeare and Anne finish the story by reflecting on the play and their love (I Want It That Way – Reprise).

Credits: & JULIET Teacher Workbook, Synopsis.