At Pride at Volunteer Park this year, I ran into an old colleague of mine who is a huge fan of musicals and is a strong critic. When I expressed not knowing much about the upcoming tour of “& JULIET” and being on the fence about seeing it, he lit up about the show. Inspired by his enthusiasm (and general good taste in entertainment), I went from not being sure if I should see it to putting it on my calendar and looking forward to the show.
The show premise starts with the idea of what would happen if at the end of Romeo & Juliet, Juliet decides not to kill herself. Ok, I’m interested…but what’s the music like?
While I like to go in to most shows as free from spoilers as possible, I did give a peek at some of the songs in the show. This is a jukebox musical – which means the songs existed before the musical was written – and the cheesy pop-music fan in me was thrilled to see song titles from the likes of Brittany Spears, Backstreet Boys, Demi Lovato, P!nk, Robyn, and more.
Recently, I had a chance to connect with one of the talented musical theatre actors in the show, Teal Wicks, who plays Anne in this Broadway tour of “& JULIET.”
Here’s our Q&A:
Q: Hi Teal, welcome to Seattle! So, I’m wondering: how do you imagine an audience member feeling as they head out after the show?
I hope they’re dancing and singing at the top of their lungs their favorite songs. And I hope they feel empowered to follow their hearts toward whatever great adventure they desire.
Q: What’s a memorable moment from a rehearsal or recent performance?
I absolutely love rehearsals. It’s like putting together a beautiful puzzle with the most talented group of people. Everyone has a special piece that’s unique to them and we all need to collaborate together to fit all out pieces together. Everyday of rehearsals brings something new to discover, it’s one of my favorite moments in the process of bringing a show to life.
Q: Will you describe “& JULIET” for me, just using six emojis?
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Q: How about describing YOUR character with just six emojis?
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Q: What’s a fun challenge about playing your role in “& JULIET?”
Trying to land all the amazing puns sprinkled throughout this hilarious script.
Q: What’s something that surprised you about the production or creative process when you were in rehearsals?
How much dancing they’re letting me do, lol. I even have a few moments where I make up my own choreography every night. My character Anne lives by the motto “dance like no one’s watching”
Q: What’s something you love about a fellow cast member or someone involved with the show?
I have to give a shout out to our amazing company managers. Keeping track of a show with so many moving parts and such an eclectic group of 50 company members moving across the country week to week, month to month, is no easy task. But our company managers do it so thoughtfully with such joy and grace, they truly make us feel like one happy wacky family.
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Thanks, Teal, for taking time to answer our questions! I look forward to seeing you on stage in Seattle next week! More about Teal Wicks, here.
“& JULIET” plays The Paramount in downtown Seattle July 29 – Aug 3, 2025.
Seattle Pockets 