This post may earn affiliate income from links and/or review products to help support this site from the companies .
‘& Juliet’ in Portland: A Glitter-Soaked, Pop-Powered Rewriting of History That’ll Leave You Screaming “More!”
Tickets are available at www.BroadwayinPortland.com
If you’ve ever slow-danced in your bedroom to Backstreet Boys, screamed Katy Perry lyrics out your car window, or sobbed to Britney Spears ballads on repeat—& Juliet is the Broadway fever dream you didn’t know you needed.
Currently lighting up the stage at Portland’s Keller Auditorium through August 20th, this high-octane, hilarious, and heartfelt musical dares to ask: What if Juliet didn’t die at the end of Shakespeare’s tragedy? What if, instead of offing herself for a guy she just met, she packed a bag, called her girls, and went on a self-discovery bender with a soundtrack of iconic 90s and 2000s pop hits?
Well… she does. And it’s FABULOUS.
Wait… What Is ‘& Juliet’?
First things first: if you’re unfamiliar, & Juliet is a reimagined sequel of sorts to Romeo & Juliet, told through the lens of Shakespeare’s wife, Anne Hathaway (not that one) Nicole Lamb, who crashes her husband’s writing session and decides that Juliet deserves better. This setup launches a whole new version of the story where Juliet doesn’t die for love—but lives for it, questions it, and redefines it.
What unfolds is a genre-bending, time-warping, gender-expanding romp through themes of self-worth, love, friendship, and identity—all soundtracked by the undeniable hits of Max Martin, the man behind basically every pop banger of your youth.
Max Martin: The Pop God Behind the Curtain
If you somehow don’t know the name Max Martin, trust us—you know the music. The Swedish songwriting titan is responsible for an almost absurd number of pop hits. Hit Me Baby One More Time, I Want It That Way, Since U Been Gone, Roar, It’s My Life, Problem, Can’t Feel My Face, That’s the Way It Is—just to name a few. In fact, Martin has penned more #1 Billboard hits than anyone besides Paul McCartney and John Lennon.
What’s wild is how & Juliet weaves these tracks into the narrative so effortlessly. They’re not jukebox musical filler—they advance the plot, reveal emotional stakes, and create massive, goosebump-worthy moments that genuinely slap.
The Setlist: Bangers Only
Let’s talk about the music, because this show doesn’t just dip into your nostalgic playlist—it lives there. From the opening number to the closing bows, the hits keep coming, and the audience eats. it. up.
Here are just a few of the standouts:
-
🎵 “…Baby One More Time” – an early showstopper that turns Juliet’s mourning into a full-on emo power ballad.
-
🎵 “Since U Been Gone” – pure post-breakup rage with vocal runs that shatter glass.
-
🎵 “It’s My Life” – the ultimate anthem of independence, belted like it’s the Super Bowl.
-
🎵 “Teenage Dream / Break Free” mashup – a glittering, euphoric banger with fireworks and freedom.
-
🎵 “I Want It That Way” – sung in the most hilarious, unexpected context imaginable—and it works.
-
🎵 “Roar” – the power anthem of the finale, complete with confetti cannons and literal roaring.
And somehow, it’s not just catchy. It’s clever. Each song is chosen for a reason, and while you’re singing along, you’re also watching Juliet grow up, discover her voice, and rewrite her own damn story.
Costumes: Bridgerton Meets Coachella
Let’s take a moment for the costume design, because—damn. The wardrobe slays. Think: corsets with rhinestones, puffy sleeves with combat boots, and bustiers layered over jeans. It’s part period-piece, part Y2K throwback, and part fashion-forward queer runway show. And it works. Flawlessly.
Juliet’s outfits in particular are a statement—flirty but fierce, pastel but powerful. Every costume change reflects a shift in her identity and confidence, evolving from the dainty doomed lover to a bold, self-possessed queen in her own right. The whole cast follows suit, embracing the historical-meets-modern fusion with swagger and sass.
Lighting, Sets, and Concert Vibes
This isn’t your grandmother’s Shakespeare. The lighting and set design transform the stage into a full-blown concert experience, complete with strobe lights, smoke, pyrotechnics, and moments that feel like a legit pop tour. At times, it’s so immersive you forget you’re in a theater and feel like you’ve scored front-row seats at a secret Backstreet Boys reunion.
The production never takes itself too seriously—neon signs flash things like “Plot Twist” and “Historical Inaccuracy” to break the fourth wall and keep things fun. It’s chaotic in the best way, like a love child of Hamilton, Moulin Rouge, and a Pride parade.
The Humor: Shakespeare and Anne Steal the Show
While Juliet is our fierce, fabulous protagonist, the real scene-stealers are Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway, whose hilarious creative tug-of-war frames the whole show. Their banter is whip-smart, totally meta, and surprisingly relatable for anyone who’s ever tried to collaborate with a partner.
Anne (played with perfect timing and warmth) represents modern feminism and fresh ideas, while Shakespeare is the brooding, fragile ego who wants to cling to tragedy. Watching them try to out-script each other in real time adds a layer of Inception-like brilliance to the show.
Their chemistry is hysterical—and oddly romantic. There’s a whole subplot where Anne’s trying to reignite the spark in their marriage, and it ends up being both laugh-out-loud funny and genuinely sweet.
The Cast: Triple Threats Across the Board
Every single performer on that stage delivers. Vocals? Unreal. Dancing? Tight and explosive. Acting? Charismatic AF.
-
Rachel Webb as Juliet is a powerhouse. She’s got the pipes of Ariana, the swagger of Beyoncé, and the heart of every girl who’s ever had to start over.
-
Nick Drake as May , Juliet’s gender-nonconforming bestie, is one of the freshest, most authentic characters on any Broadway stage right now. Their solo (“I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman”) is beautifully done—intimate and powerful without being heavy-handed.
-
Mateus Leite Cardoso as Francois, the adorably awkward love interest, brings some of the biggest laughs—and swooniest moments—of the show.
-
Katheryn Allison as Angelique, Juliet’s nurse, turns every line into a punchline and every song into a mic-drop moment.
The entire ensemble works their asses off, keeping the energy sky-high for two full hours. And let’s be real: they make it look fun as hell.
Go. Seriously. Just Go.
If you’re even mildly nostalgic for the TRL era… if you ever danced around in a low-rise skirt to Oops I Did It Again… if you’ve ever screamed Since U Been Gone in a bar with your best friends… then & Juliet will absolutely wreck you—in the best possible way.
It’s smart. It’s sexy. It’s hilarious. It’s empowering. And it’s got a soundtrack that will stay in your head for days.
So if you’re anywhere near Portland, get your butt to Keller Auditorium now through August 20th. Trust me—you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll sing your damn heart out. And by the end of it, you’ll want to rewrite your own ending, too.
Because maybe it was never about Romeo.
Maybe it was always & Juliet.
Tickets are available at www.BroadwayinPortland.com
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
The performance schedule for the Portland engagement of & JULIET is:
Tuesday, August 5 7:30 pm
Wednesday, August 6 7:30 pm
Thursday, August 7 7:30 pm – American Sign Language Interpreted
Friday, August 8 7:30 pm – Audio Description
Saturday, August 9 2 pm and 7:30 pm
Sunday, August 10 1 pm and
6:30 pm – Open Caption
Broadway in Portland is a partnership between Portland Opera and Broadway Across America.
CONNECT WITH & JULIET
Instagram: @andjulietbway
X: @andjulietbway
Facebook: @andjulietbway
TikTok: @andjulietbway
Follow Broadway in Portland:
X/Twitter – BroadwayPDX
Instagram – BroadwayInPortland
Facebook – BroadwayInPortland
#BroadwayInPortland
