Today we went to see & Juliet. I didn’t know much about it beforehand, only that it was supposed to be good for familes, so it seemed like a good choice for an outing with the kids. A couple of days ago, though, I found out it was a jukebox musical—a genre that pulls its soundtrack from popular songs rather than creating original compositions for the show. Think Mamma Mia! or Moulin Rouge, stories told through songs you likely already know. When I realized this, I knew I’d need to adjust my expectations.
In a traditional musical, you expect original music that’s purpose-built to reveal plot and character. A jukebox musical, on the other hand, plays a different game: it takes songs from outside and reshapes them to fit a new narrative. Each song becomes a puzzle piece from a different box, and the show invites you to watch how it all comes together to form something new.1
The key to enjoying a jukebox musical like & Juliet, is to meet it on its own terms. This isn’t “real theatre,” as the West End purists might say, with reverence for original scores and complex character arcs. Here, the aim isn’t to outdo Shakespeare or Sondheim; it’s to create an experience that’s fun, memorable, and a little cheeky. The plot may stretch in places, characters sing songs you’d never expect, and yes, it can feel a bit contrived—but that’s part of the charm.
You need to appreciate it for what it is—a reinterpretation, a kind of remix that dances between the familiar and the unexpected. There’s something special about a good remix, the way it balances old and new to create something fresh. Like DJ Earworm’s United States of Pop, which layers popular hits into something entirely new, & Juliet brings its own creativity to the story, giving the familiar a new life. Once I stopped holding it up to traditional expectations, I began noticing the genuine creativity in how each song was reshaped to fit the story. It’s a theater experience that’s less about what’s “authentic” and more about what’s joyful and alive.
Seeing these reinterpretations play out was one of the highlights. In & Juliet, songs like Britney Spears’ “…Baby One More Time” transformed from a pop anthem of frustration into a heartfelt moment where Juliet questions her own choices and future. Pink’s “F**kin’ Perfect” took on new meaning, turning into a powerful, affirming anthem that captured Juliet’s journey toward self-worth amid others’ expectations. Songs we’ve all heard a hundred times were suddenly layered with Juliet’s story and the humor of the plot twists, injecting fresh meaning into each lyric. The show took these songs we know by heart and wove them into the story with humor, nostalgia, and a surprisingly touching edge.
Before watching the show, I realized that it helps to be familiar with the source material. I found the Songs from & Juliet playlist on Spotify, and although I didn’t want to spoil how the songs would be reinterpreted, I did want to revisit the originals to appreciate the transformations fully. When I saw Moulin Rouge without this preparation, I’d sometimes felt left out, missing the fun of catching these musical nods as they surfaced in the story.
For me, the real joy of a jukebox musical lies in watching familiar songs reimagined, sometimes in ways that make them feel even richer than before. That’s why understanding the music itself feels essential; without that context, I might miss the nuances of how each song has been reshaped to fit this new narrative. When I recognize those layers, I get to see the thought and artistry behind every choice—the way a song doesn’t just lean on nostalgia but is transformed to drive the story forward, revealing new angles on both the music and the characters. It’s more than just enjoying tunes we know; it’s about noticing how they’ve been remixed to bring out unexpected depth and emotion.
& Juliet’s main theme also revolves around how Shakespeare’s wife, Anne Hathaway, wants to rewrite the story he’s always controlled. Instead of letting Juliet stay the passive, tragic figure we’re all familiar with, Anne insists on giving her a new fate—one where she has agency and makes her own choices. This dynamic between Anne and Shakespeare becomes a creative tug-of-war, with Anne challenging his authority over the narrative and questioning the traditional arcs he insists on keeping. It’s a clever meta-commentary on who gets to tell stories, and how those stories shift when different voices, especially women’s voices, are allowed to shape them.
In the end, watching a jukebox musical isn’t about “getting” the story—it’s about enjoying the remix. It’s the thrill of seeing familiar songs reimagined and reinterpreted, their meanings stretched and given fresh layers. The real magic lies in letting go of expectations and enjoying how old and new blend to create something alive and unexpected. Often, the best art happens when stories evolve, giving us the chance to be surprised.
Footnotes
- Note that not all Jukebox musicals are like this. Jesse Green explains how & Juliet is different from jukebox biopic retrospectives in the New York Times. ↩︎
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