The Fun Facets of ‘& Juliet’

As if William Shakespeare’s “Romeo & Juliet” didn’t have enough twists and turns of its own, the delightful touring jukebox musical “& Juliet” adds twists, turns, laughs, love, and familiar melodies to take the Bard’s tragedy to an entirely new – and comedic – level. Virginia audiences can catch the comedy at the Altria Theater in Richmond, May 12-17, 2026.

What if Juliet had chosen not to take her own life after she discovered her beloved Romeo was dead? What if she decided instead to take her life in her own hands?

Though doubtful that William Shakespeare would have written such an ending for his tragedy, “& Juliet” introduces new characters for this new direction. Enter Anne Hathaway, William Shakespeare’s IRL wife, who is dismayed by the ending of her husband’s play and suggests an alternative. Enter Nurse, who helps guide and inspire young Juliet. Enter Juliet’s BFF May, a young man who delights in his femininity.

William and Anne verbally spar throughout the musical, dueling for narrative control, even stepping into the action. Anne, for example, objects to a character that her husband resurrects, and he objects to Anne’s creation of May – though Anne points out how very Shakespearean May really is:

Really? This from the man who’s built a career on men dressing as women, often playing women dressing as men? The man whose name is basically synonymous with gender bending? Do you really think it’s up to you to question May’s gender or sexuality, or do you think maybe May is whoever May is, and it’s really none of your business?

The musical blends the Elizabethan setting of Shakespearean times with a blended wardrobe, contemporary music and ideas, and sets filled with anachronisms for a lively romp through an old tale.

Costumes shine in ‘& Juliet’

Paloma Young’s costume design blends Elizabethan garb with styles of the 1980s and beyond, says wardrobe supervisor Virginia Phillips. Players wear a mix of ruff collars, whisk collars, pumpkin pants, doublets, and bodices – plus varsity jackets, jeans, graphic tees, and sneakers. “I get a lot of Betsey Johnson from [Young’s] things, like the roses on Romeo and the punk look,” Phillips says.

The characters’ costumes change throughout the musical, reflecting their personal transformation, and quick costume changes punctuate the play. Kaylyn Parton, local stagehand with IATSE, worked on backstage changes in “& Juliet.” Though they seem complex, Parton says that Phillips and assistant wardrobe supervisor Fez Gonzalez have provided clear, up-to-date how-to notes. “We did the first show last night, but it was flawless. Everything went perfect,” Parton says. “And Fabiola is really easy to get along with.”

Fabiola Caraballo Quijada plays Juliet and, as might be expected for the title character, is onstage for most of the show, with numerous offstage and onstage costume changes. Encapsulating her early costume switches (and edited for brevity), she explains:

“I start the show in the beautiful hombre dress with a little flower on it. That one comes off almost immediately after the number.” She next slips into a pink poof for “Domino,” but covers it with a black compression skirt with side snaps and a handle, then covers that with a big gray funeral dress with snaps and magnets. During “Domino,” she goes behind the wardrobe and rips off the top dress and the compression skirt to reveal a “little magenta corset and poof combo, which is so cute. It’s so 2000s … it’s playful. Juliet is ready to play.” She puts a reversible varsity-style jacket over that. “One detail that I really, really love about that jacket is that, on the crest, on the back, it says Oculus Tigris, which means ‘eye of the tiger’ in Latin.”

The most stunning costume, Phillips says, is Juliet’s “Roar” costume at the end. “It’s an $11,000 piece that we hand dip and dye and rhinestone, and it is spectacular. The scene itself is spectacular, because Juliet truly comes into who she is. And the costume shows that. Because she wears this feather, she becomes the quill, and it becomes her written story.”

It’s the most dramatic quick change, too, as less than 30 seconds of darkness transforms Juliet’s wedding dress to a dazzling work of art. Before the wedding scene, Quijada explains, she puts on the rhinestone corset for “Roar,” puts the pink wedding gown over it, and changes from sneakers to boots. “And, yeah, then I’m ready to roar.”

Juliet’s transformation can be seen in her wardrobe changes: from a modest, long, flowy dress with an empire waist to a funeral dress to more playful and modern pieces. “It shows Juliet’s revolution and progression,” says Quijada.

A story told through today’s music

Except for a few allusions to Elizabethan music, “& Juliet” centers on chart-topping pop music, with hits from songwriter Max Martin – think Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Ariana Grande, Kelly Clarkson, Demi Lovato, Katy Perry, Kesha, Bon Jovi, and more – all woven into a delightful story about second chances, self-discovery, and rewriting your own narrative.

The audience barely gets a moment to catch its breath between powerhouse vocals, quick-witted jokes, lavish costumes, and lively choreography. The familiar songs become punchlines, emotional turning points, and crowd-pleasing singalongs. Even audience members otherwise unfamiliar with the music may realize they’ve been hearing Max Martin lyrics since the 1990s.

Beneath all the sparkle, “& Juliet” speaks volumes about lasting love, autonomy, reinvention, and refusing to let someone else write your ending. Juliet emerges not as a tragic literary relic but as a modern heroine determined to figure out who she is beyond one doomed romance.

Shakespearean scholars may need to shift their expectations for this iteration of the tragedy. At the same time, they can draw many delightful allusions and appreciate the interwoven story of William and Anne’s relationship.

Given the comedies that the Bard himself penned, I daresay he would approve this take on his tale.

“& Juliet” is playing at the Altria Theater in Richmond, Virginia, May 12-17, 2026.

“& Juliet” premiered at Manchester Opera House in England in 2019, emigrating to Broadway in 2022, and traveling throughout the U.S. and Canada in 2026.

FEATURE IMAGE, TOP: Fabiola Caraballo Quijada and the company of the North American Tour of “& Juliet” – Photo Credit Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade