Rachel Zegler just can’t stop, won’t stop starring as a star-crossed lover whose familial lineage prevents her from being with her heart’s desire, which ultimately leads to death. She’ll be making her Broadway debut alongside Kit Connor (Heartstopper) in a new production of Romeo and Juliet (this time called Romeo + Juliet, à la Baz Luhrmann), In the teaser, set to Bleachers’ “Tiny Moves,” Connor and Zegler montage it up in the suburbs. They’re laughing, they’re dancing, they’re teens! If the new R+J does, in fact, take place in the suburbs, then we hope the show takes advantage of the teen predilection toward hanging out in 24-hour gas stations and getting drunk in basements — just as Shakespeare intended.
This is more of a homecoming dance for Zegler. Her breakout role came from playing a version of Juliet in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story. The production will feature a score by Bleachers’ Jack Antonoff. Let’s hope he’s done the required reading and not just listened to his frequent collaborator Taylor Swift’s version of events in “Love Story.” The production will be directed by Sam Gold (Fun Home) and feature “movement” by Sonya Tayeh (Moulin Rouge!). The production will begin previews on September 26 and open October 24 in Circle in the Square. Might as well rename it the Sam Gold Theater.
This post has been updated.