This summer, I took all four of my children to see & Juliet on Broadway, and it was one of the most energetic, joyful shows we have experienced together. This was the second time one of my teens and I saw it in New York, so we just knew that the rest of our family would love it too.
The music is incredible. The dancing is explosive. The costumes are bright and bold, and the entire theater feels like it has been invited to one enormous pop concert. But underneath the confetti, comedy, and familiar songs is a genuinely beautiful story about growing up, discovering who you are, and realizing that one disappointing chapter does not have to determine the rest of your life.
Now that & Juliet is scheduled to play its final Broadway performance on January 3, 2027, I have been telling families with teens and tweens to see it while they still can. The musical is currently playing at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre in New York City, where it opened in November 2022. By closing night, it is expected to have played more than 1,700 performances. The official Broadway production recommends the show for ages 8 and older, although a note for parents: the show includes some strong language, romantic themes, and conversations about sexuality and gender identity.
What Is & Juliet About?
The musical begins with a question: What if Juliet did not die at the end of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet?
Instead of allowing Juliet’s story to end because Romeo’s does, Shakespeare’s wife, Anne Hathaway, challenges her husband to write a different ending. Juliet survives, leaves Verona, travels to Paris with her friends, and begins figuring out what she wants her life to become.
The story is told through songs written or co-written by legendary pop songwriter and producer Max Martin. Adults (and probably teens, too) will recognize music made famous by artists including Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, Ariana Grande, P!nk, and Bon Jovi.
The songs are not just inserted between scenes; lyrics we already know are used in funny, surprising, and occasionally moving new ways. A song that once seemed like a straightforward pop anthem suddenly becomes part of Juliet’s journey toward independence.
Seeing Chrissy Metz Make Her Broadway Debut
Our performance was even more special because we saw Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Chrissy Metz, best known for her role as Kate Pearson on This Is Us, make her Broadway debut as Angélique.
Metz appeared in the production for a limited engagement from June 18 through September 13, 2026. Angélique could easily have been played only for laughs, but Metz brought warmth and vulnerability to the character. Watching an accomplished television actor step onto a Broadway stage for the first time also reinforced one of the show’s biggest messages: it is never too late to try something new or write another version of your own story.
Future audiences will see a different performer in the role, but that’s part of the magic of live theater; every cast brings something different to the production, and no two performances are exactly alike.
The Lessons Teens Can Take From & Juliet
The most obvious lesson is that heartbreak does not have to be the end of your story. Juliet believes Romeo was her entire future, but she slowly realizes that she still has choices, dreams, friendships, and a life that belongs to her.
What a powerful idea for teenagers to grasp; their emotions and disappointments are real, even when adults know that life will continue beyond a breakup, rejection, friendship conflict, or embarrassing mistake. & Juliet does not dismiss those feelings. Instead, it shows that pain can be real without being permanent.
The show also gives families an opening to talk about identity. Several characters are trying to understand who they are instead of simply accepting the roles other people have chosen for them. May, one of Juliet’s closest friends, explores gender identity and love with honesty and tenderness. Their storyline makes room for questions about belonging, acceptance, and the importance of allowing people to define themselves.
Another valuable lesson comes through Juliet’s friendships. She doesn’t rebuild her life alone; her friends travel with her, encourage her, challenge her, and stand beside her when her plans unravel. Romantic love may drive the original Shakespeare story, but this version makes it clear that friendship can be just as transformative. Even Shakespeare and Anne are forced to examine their relationship. Their disagreements about Juliet’s ending become a larger conversation about marriage, control, listening, and whether loving someone means allowing them to change.
Why & Juliet Works So Well for Teens
Some musicals feel as though teens are being asked to appreciate them. & Juliet meets young audiences where they are.
The music is familiar, the jokes move quickly, and the production never runs out of energy. The crowd is encouraged to respond, and the atmosphere feels much less formal than some traditional Broadway experiences. For a teen attending a first Broadway musical, this is a fantastic introduction. At the same time, the show does not talk down to younger audience members. It trusts them to understand complicated relationships, conflicting emotions, and characters who are still learning from their mistakes.
Parents should consider their own child’s maturity and comfort level. The official recommendation begins at age 8, but I think the show’s themes and humor will connect most strongly with tweens and teens. Families who attend together will also have plenty to discuss afterward.
See & Juliet Before the Final Curtain
When I think about taking my four children to & Juliet, I remember the huge musical numbers and the entire theater buzzing with energy. I remember Chrissy Metz walking onto the Broadway stage and, most of all, I remember sharing a story that told my children their futures are not limited by other people’s expectations or by one decision that did not work out.
Juliet does not need someone else to finish her story for her. Neither do our kids.
If your family will be in New York before January 3, 2027, add & Juliet to your plans. Go for the music, the dancing, the laughter, and the wild burst of confetti. Leave with your teens talking about second chances, friendship, identity, and the freedom to decide what comes next.
