Broadway’s “& Juliet” has announced a new principal actor. Maya Boyd will take on the title role in the Max Martin jukebox musical beginning on May 14 at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre. Boyd will succeed Lorna Courtney, who earned a 2023 Tony Award nomination for originating the role of Juliet. Courtney will play her final performance on May 12.
“& Juliet” will mark Boyd’s second Main Stem credit, having made her Broadway debut earlier this season in the ensemble of “Merrily We Roll Along” and serving as an understudy for the role of Gussie. While performing in “Merrily,” Boyd completed her final year at University of Michigan. She will take a break from “& Juliet” rehearsals to return to Michigan and graduate college.
Featuring direction by Luke Sheppard, a book by David West Read and set to a soundscape of Martin’s pop songs, “& Juliet” reimagines the upshot of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” if Juliet had survived and forged her own path. The musical opened on Nov. 17, 2022 and received nine 2023 Tony nominations.
In addition to Courtney, the current principal cast of “& Juliet” includes David Bedella as Lance, Betsy Wolfe as Anne Hathaway, Austin Scott as Shakespeare, Justin David Sullivan as May, Charity Angél Dawson as Angélique, Ben Jackson Walker as Romeo and Philippe Arroyo as Francois. Casting is by Stephen Kopel and Carrie Gardner.
“& Juliet” is produced by Max Martin, Tim Headington, Theresa Steele Page, Jenny Petersson, Martin Dodd and Eva Price.
