Rachel Zegler of “West Side Story” fame and Kit Connor, known for his role in “Heartstopper,” are set to make their Broadway debut in a modern take on Shakespeare’s “Romeo + Juliet.” Set to premier in the fall, the production will see these young actors play the iconic star-crossed lovers.
Zegler and Connor took to Instagram to hint at the news, with coordinated posts featuring their characters’ initials. They also used emojis symbolizing a heart and a dagger, further alluding to their roles. Interestingly, they tagged their location as Verona – the setting for the original Shakespearean tragedy.
This iteration of the classic love story is directed by Sam Gold, with music composed by Grammy-winning Jack Antonoff, who has notably collaborated with pop star Taylor Swift. The choreography will be handled by Sonya Tayeh, who won a Tony for her work in “Moulin Rouge.”
“Romeo + Juliet” is being reimagined for the TikTok generation, with an edgy tagline, “the youth are fucked.” The production promises to make the timeless tragedy resonate with the plight of today’s youth. Further details about the play, including the venue, dates, and more cast members, will be announced in due course.
Connor gained popularity with Netflix’s “Heartstopper,” while Zegler garnered attention in Spielberg’s “West Side Story.” Both are set to bring their notable acting chops to this latest representation of the age-old romantic tragedy.
Vocabulary List:
- Premiere (noun): The first performance or showing of a playmovieetc.
- Star-crossed (adjective): Unlucky or doomed in love.
- Alluding (verb): Suggesting or hinting at something indirectly.
- Collaborated (verb): Worked together with othersespecially on a creative project.
- Resonate (verb): Evoke or suggest imagesmemoriesand emotions.
- Plight (noun): A dangerousdifficultor otherwise unfortunate situation.