Stage and Cinema
- Somewhat Recommended
"...As I was settling into my seat at the gorgeous Auditorium Theatre, awaiting the start of the touring production of & Juliet, I noticed the person next to me watching a video on their phone. Having nothing better to do, I peeked-I am notoriously nosy, and attempts to shame me for it will prove futile-and saw they were watching a video on how to prepare for a colonoscopy. Once I recovered from my surprise, I realized that if, like me, you were a young person around the peak of the Max Martin era-around the turn of the century-you'd be nearing, or just about at, the age where that unpleasant procedure is first recommended. It was a sobering realization of how time flies. One day you're jumping and screaming with a thousand others at a concert; the next you're a cranky critic in an auditorium wondering why the hell they have to keep the damn room so cold."
Around The Town Chicago
- Highly Recommended
"...They say that "love is lovelier the second time around", and once in awhile, seeing a play is just that. I recall seeing "& Juliet" a few seasons ago as part of the Broadway In Chicago series and tonight, the new rendition of Max Martin & Friends (music & lyrics) and David West Read's (book) "& Juliet" under the direction of Luke Sheppard rocked The Auditorium Theatre at Roosevelt University. I wasn't sure if they did something special to the seating area, but on several occasions our seats were vibrating with the rock music that we were hearing. This is a MUST SEE (and I mean people of all ages and genders!"
Chicago Theatre Review
- Highly Recommended
"...& JULIET, in its second visit to the Windy City, is just as exciting and fun. Every inch a true Broadway production, the National Tour is only playing here for two weeks. It’s not only a comedic and clever reimagining of Shakespeare’s ROMEO AND JULIET, it’s an infectiously tuneful musical that features a great score of 30 pop hits from the 1990’s. The cast is strong, including a talented, hardworking ensemble, whose choreographic talent and harmonic vocals will astound every theatergoer. And this musical is particularly noteworthy in that the company, as well as the lead characters, look like real people from every walk of life. This includes a positive portrayal of gay and non-binary folks who finally get to enjoy their own happily ever after. All-in-all, Broadway in Chicago has once again delivered another magical musical that’s “Larger Than Life.”"
Buzz Center Stage
- Highly Recommended
"...& Juliet continues to light up Chicago with glitter, heart, and high-voltage joy, and this touring production proves itself an outright delight. Running July 22 through August 2, 2026, the Broadway in Chicago engagement at the Auditorium Theatre delivers a vibrant, tightly crafted experience that never loses sight of its emotional core. With a knockout lead performance, a dynamic ensemble, and a creative team working at peak imagination, this tour shows exactly why & Juliet has become one of the most irresistible modern musicals. It is a jubilant, neon-bright celebration of rewriting your own story and absolutely worth catching before it dances out of the city."
Third Coast Review
- Highly Recommended
"...There are few bolder ways to begin a musical than by putting William Shakespeare on blast, but Broadway in Chicago’s production of & Juliet, currently playing at the Auditorium Theatre, is nothing if not a bold show."
Chicago On Stage
- Highly Recommended
"...I’ve taught Romeo and Juliet many times, and every time was a journey of discovery with different classes. High school kids ask compelling questions when they feel free to do so (and the discovery that the title characters are 14 and 13 years old is pretty provocative). Amid the conversations about unexpected humor, child marriage, parental expectations, and (of course) suicide, though, there is one thing no one ever asked about: why does Juliet kill herself over a boy she hardly knows? Why indeed? The remarkably enjoyable jukebox musical & Juliet, now playing at the Auditorium Theatre, takes on that question and, in doing so, changes an Elizabethan tragedy into a well-constructed argument for self-determination with a feminist viewpoint."
Curtain Call Chicago
- Highly Recommended
"...The touring production's Chicago return arrives this time at the Auditorium Theatre whose immense size gives the show's scale plenty of room to breathe. The glitter, LED and confetti all bring high power impact that keeps the audience's energy high. From the moment the actors take the stage, they break the fourth wall to let the audience know that they are in the party section....we immediately know that we are in for a story told on a backdrop of great fun. The book's self-aware humor - Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway literally rewriting the plot's ending in real time as they face their own marital tensions - lands as sharply as ever."
Splash Magazine
- Highly Recommended
"...& Juliet is a dazzling, high-voltage hit jukebox musical. "Sometimes singing, dancing, jokes, and a happy ending are all you need," said Lorne Michaels in his 2026 Tony acceptance speech for Schmigadoon at Radio City Music Hall. That and more could account for the overwhelming success of & Juliet. This is the reimagined story of Juliet surviving Romeo with subplots of discord in Shakespeare's marriage to Anne Hathaway. & Juliet also features gender-fluid characters, wry social commentary, and a non-binary coming-of-age narrative. It is proudly feminist with a core message about women taking control of their own destinies rather than being defined by a man."
