'& Juliet' to get Philippine run next year
MANILA, Philippines — Award-winning musical "& Juliet" will get a theater run in the Philippines, courtesy of Full House Theater Company (FHTC).
"& Juliet" is a jukebox musical featuring contemporary music to give a new spin on the ending to William Shakespeare's famous tragedy "Romeo and Juliet" following negotiations by his wife Anne Hathaway.
What Anne suggests is that Juliet carries on with her life after Romeo's death, which puts the couple at odds on how the story should unfurl.
Emmy-winning writer for "Schitt's Creek" David West Read wrote the production's book while the music is credited to Max Martin, with arragements by Bill Sherman.
Songs by the likes of Ariana Grande, Kelly Clarkson, Celine Dion, Katy Perry, The Weeknd, Demi Lovato, Jessie J, Kesha, Elli Goulding, Adam Lambert and even Bon Jovi make up the show's musical numbers.
A majority of the numbers by the titular character are Britney Spears tracks, namely: "Oops!... I Did It Again," "I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman," "Stronger," "Overprotected," and "... Baby One More Time."
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The artist with the most songs in "& Juliet" however are the Backstreet Boys with "I Want It That Way," "As Long As You Love Me," "Shape of My Heart," "Larger Than Life," "Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely," and "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)."
"& Juliet" premiered at the Manchester Opera House in September 2019 before moving to the West End two months later, where it ran until March 2023.
The musical was nominated for nine Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical and won three acting honors for Miriam Teak-Lee, Cassidy Janson and David Bedella.
A delayed Toronto production moved to Broadway in 2022 and is still running Stephen Sondheim Theater. The Broadway run similarly received nine Tony nominations, including Best Musical but went home empty-handed.
FHTC — the company behind local productions like "Ang Huling El Bimbo the Musical," "Buruguduystunstugudunstuy: Ang Parokya ni Edgar Musical," and "Shrek the Musical — recently announced it will be expanding beyond musicals to attempt more forms of live entertainment.
The company will now take charge of productions beyond musical theater, such as concerts, straight plays, improv theater and more special events.
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