Alia Meyerovich ’27

How cool is it to be in the front row, sitting three steps away from Kit Connor and Rachel Zegler?

On Saturday, September 28, I was amazed to find myself sitting three steps away from Connor Kit and Rachel Zegler in the new Broadway production of Romeo + Juliet. It’s interesting that these Gen Z superstars are starring in Shakespeare’s iconic 1597 tragedy, marked by its “star crossed lovers.” Connor is a lead in Netflix’s hit show Heartstopper, and Zegler is a lead in the Hunger Games prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Come next year, she’s also going to star in Disney’s live action Snow White. This casting introduces a whole new generation into Shakespearean culture.

Connor truly fit his role as Romeo, far exceeding the expectations I had for the performance. Zegler’s stage presence was remarkable, and she portrayed Juliet perfectly.

When my mother and I entered the Circle in the Square Theater, I was shocked by how perfectly its name embodied it. A circular stage, completely surrounded by seats, meant that there was no curtain. All the characters had the unique responsibility of acting in 360 degrees. For the first 15 minutes, before the show officially started, Zegler and Connor got into character on stage for all the audience to see.

As every version does, this production's spin on Shakespeare’s classic play has Jack Antonoff creating music for today’s modern audiences, thereby having Juliet (Zegler) sing twice, which made the show all the more extraordinary. During another part of the play, Connor walked around the theater and interacted with the audience, giving the show an improvisational feel and making the character of Romeo Connor’s own.

At the end of the show, Connor, Zegler, and the rest of the cast were so gracious to their fans that when they walked out of the cinema, they obliged the audience by signing our posters.

2024’s Broadway production of Romeo + Juliet brings universal themes of love at first sight, teenage angst, forbidden relationships, family conflict, and impulsive action to the forefront of young, modern day, minds. These transcendent ideas are made all the more accessible because of the casting. Kit Connor and Rachel Zegler shine in this modern and original production of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.