&Juliet shines bright on opening night at Hartford’s Bushnell Theatre

&Juliet at The Bushnell in May 2026 — Photo by Natalie Colon

Connecticut residents had the novel opportunity to see one of Broadway’s smash hits live at the Bushnell Theatre in Hartford, CT. &Juliet is an upbeat reimagining of the William Shakespeare classic, Romeo & Juliet, that proves jukebox musicals are still as interesting and awe-inducing as an original score. The show opened with a lively dance performance by the ensemble, settng the tone for the night as the actors interacted with the crowd and brought us into their world.

Anne Hathaway (No, not the one you immediately thought of), wife of William Shakespeare, has become fed up with his absence. When she learns his latest work, Romeo + Juliet, is yet another tragedy, she decides to rewrite the narrative. In Anne’s version, Juliet doesn’t kill herself after her lover’s death, thus kicking off the journey of Juliet’s life after Romeo. Facing pressure from her parents to become a nun, the young Capulet navigates the path to sel-discovery while fleeing to Paris with her Nurse, and best friends May and Hathaway’s self-insert, April.

The show brings the past to the present thorugh a progressive lens, bringing modern experiences and struggles to the forefront. May is a non-binary character played in this performance by Nico Ochoa. Throughout the show, we see much of May’s journey as they navigate a world that doesn’t fully grasp their identity, while also pursuing love on their own terms.

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The introduction of Francois “Frankie Da Boy” Du Bois, a young man struggling under the weight of his father Lance’s (played by NSYNC’s Joey Fatone) expectations, thickens the plot, by becoming a love interest for both May and Juliet.

The cast put on a wonderful show! Having seen the original Broadway cast in NYC, I can confidently say this cast hit the bar, possibly even surpassing it. Fabiola Caraballo Quijada brought a softness and innocence to her iteration of the titular character. She truly felt like a young woman lost in a world of expectations, which made her so compelling to watch. Joey Fatone brought life to Lance, getting laugh after laugh from the audience. His natural charisma, coupled with an impressive vocal sold me on the boy band to Broadway pipeline. His scenes with Kathryn Allison as the Nurse were a delight and stole the audience. I’d be remiss not to mention CJ Eldred and Crystal Kellogg as William and Anne. These two had solid chemistry, and CJ perfectly captured the essence of the douchey albet well-meaning husband. With early 2000’s hits like “Everybody,” “Roar,” and “Oops I Did It Again,” this performance of &Juliet is a nostalgia-driven masterpiece that’s perfect for the whole family. The national tour is on the move and may stop at a city near you! Get your tickets to the national tour at https://andjulietthemusical.com/.

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May events at Fairfield Theatre Company

5/14 – Andrew Duhon
5/16 – Graham Parker
5/16 – Buckethead
5/17 – FTC Short Film Festival
5/18 – Second Wind
5/20 – Joanna Chang
5/21 – Arrival from Sweden
5/22 – Als Fest
5/22 – Drayton Farley
5/23 – Pangea Worldbeat
5/27 – Suzy Bugguss
5/28 – Steve Forbert
5/29 – Adrenalize: Def Leppard Tribute
5/30 – Goodnight Moonshine

Click here for more information & order tickets.

May events at PeoplesBank Arena

5/24 – Journey, click here to purchase tickets
5/29 -Don Toliver, click here to purchase tickets
5/30 – LA Sparks vs Connecticut Sun, click here to purchase tickets

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&Juliet shines bright on opening night at Hartford’s Bushnell Theatre