Nokoa The Observer

by Michael Lewis

Texas Performing Arts is bringing the Broadway in Austin musical “& Juliet” to Bass Concert Hall from Tuesday, July 14, through Sunday as part of the Broadway in Austin series.

Fabiola Caraballo Quijada and the company of the North American Tour of & JULIET - Photo Credit Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade Fabiola Caraballo Quijada and Joseph Torres in the North American Tour of & JULIET - Photo Credit Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

This hilarious new musical flips the script on the classic love story and poses the question: what if Juliet didn’t choose to end it all over Romeo and simply walked away? Get ready for an amazing journey as she ditches her iconic ending for a fresh start and a second chance at love—on her own terms.

Fabiola Caraballo Quijada in the North American Tour of & JULIET - Photo Credit Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade Kathryn Allison and Paul-Jordan Jansen in the North American Tour of & JULIET - Photo Credit Matthew Murphy

That question lies at the core of “& Juliet.” Crystal Kellogg, who plays Anne Hathaway, the often-overlooked wife of William Shakespeare, shared her thoughts on her role and what Austin audiences can look forward to in the show.
“It really turns Shakespeare’s famous play, ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ upside down,” Kellogg explained. “We get to dive into what might happen if Juliet made a different choice instead of the well-known tragic ending.”

The company of the North American Tour of & JULIET - Photo Credit Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade Paul-Jordan Jansen and Kathryn Allison in the North American Tour of & JULIET - Photo Credit Matthew Murphy

The book is penned by David West Read, an Emmy-winning writer celebrated for his work on “Schitt’s Creek.” Kellogg mentioned that the blend of the script and the songs creates surprising moments for the audience.

In the production, Anne observes as Shakespeare outlines the plot of “Romeo and Juliet”—and she objects. From that point, she helps to rewrite Juliet’s narrative, guiding her toward a new adventure instead of a tragic fate. This structure gives Kellogg a special role in the show.

“I get to be one of the narrators, but I’m also part of the show,” she said. “I can write myself into it a bit and become part of the friends and the story.”
The music for the show is crafted by Grammy-winning songwriter and producer Max Martin, who has worked with stars like NSYNC, Britney Spears, Pink, Kesha, Kelly Clarkson, Ariana Grande, and Bon Jovi, among others. The setlist features hits like “Since U Been Gone,” “Roar,” “Baby One More Time,” “Larger Than Life,” “That’s the Way It Is,” and “Can’t Stop the Feeling!”