Shakespeare gets a Gen Z makeover in the newest revival of his most beloved tragedy. Romeo + Juliet is back on Broadway in a production helmed by Tony winner Sam Gold and starring Rachel Zegler and Kit Connor.
The youth are f**ked. Left to their own devices in their parents’ world of violent ends, an impulsive pair of star-crossed lovers hurtle towards their inescapable fate. The intoxicating high of passion quickly descends into a brutal chaos that can only end one way. In this version of the classic, Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy now belongs to a new generation on the edge.
This production of Romeo + Juliet is even more special, because though it is not a musical, it features music by Grammy Award winner Jack Antonoff and movement direction and choreography by Tony Award winner Sonya Tayeh. The song "Man of the House," performed by Zegler, has been released as a single.
Romeo and Juliet, one of William Shakespeare's most famous plays, is a timeless tragedy that explores the intense and destructive power of love. Set in Verona, the story revolves around two young lovers, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, whose families are locked in a bitter feud. Despite the hostility between their houses, Romeo and Juliet fall deeply in love and secretly marry. Their romance is marked by passion, impulsiveness, and defiance of social norms, which ultimately leads to devastating consequences.
The play delves into themes of fate, choice, and the destructiveness of hatred. The concept of "star-crossed lovers" underscores the inevitability of Romeo and Juliet’s doomed love, as their efforts to escape their families’ animosity lead to a series of misunderstandings and tragic events. The play has enduring relevance as a commentary on youthful passion, family dynamics, and the societal constraints that shape human relationships. Its blend of romance, drama, and universal themes ensures its place as one of the most studied and performed works in literary history.
Romeo and Juliet has not been seen on Broadway since a 2013 revival starring Orlando Bloom and Condola Rashad. Other duos to play the star-crossed lovers onstage include Lauren Ambrose and Oscar Isaac, Jessie Buckley and Josh O’Connor, and Tom Holland and Francesca Amewudah-Rivers.
It’s early in the run, and it’s possible that Gold spent less time with his actors on the second act of the play. But it’s also possible that it takes real genius to pull off the death scene in “Romeo and Juliet.” The audience has to believe that these are not just two children caught up in the early days of first love, but that they’re fated by the Gods and the universe to have met and to have died. What we have here instead is a fun night out and a hangover.
It's abundantly clear that Shakespeare purists expecting this production to be a timeless tale filled with medieval garb and banquets will find themselves up in arms over Romeo + Juliet's bold choices. But the visceral, teary-eyed reactions that several young audience members in the crowd had during the play is proof enough of how influential it will be for a brand new generation of theatergoers. To quote Perez: "Thank you, William Shakespeare!" Mic drop. Grade: B+
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| Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
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| 2025 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Fight Choreography | Drew Leary |
| 2025 | Drama League Awards | DISTINGUISHED PERFORMANCE | Kit Connor |
| 2025 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Play | Kit Connor |
| 2025 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Play | Romeo + Juliet |
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