“Young men’s love then lies, not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.” (Act 2, Scene 3)
Romeo + Juliet, Director Sam Gold’s newest Broadway adaptation of the infamous Shakespeare classic starring the Gen-Z superstars Kit Connor and Rachel Zegler, is dominating social media and the stage like never before. With its average ticket price well over $170 and the theater hitting 103% capacity each week, the audiences’ enthusiasm and engagement are palpable, both online and in person.
This latest production of the classic grabs Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy by the collar and drags it into the chaos of the 21st century. With its bold, explicit slogan and bright costume design, this play is not a traditional star-crossed love story. Unlike its past renditions, this version pulses with raw energy, tension, and youthful exuberance, emerging as a stark reflection of how lost and reckless today’s youth can feel.
Executed with Gold’s sharp, unapologetic vision, the play takes creative liberties that feel both urgent and necessary. The young lovers, Romeo and Juliet, are not just victims of fate and familial rivalry anymore; they are simply desperate, impulsive teenagers in a world where choices are limited, and consequences hit hard. The modern settings of nightclubs and kaleidoscopic interiors bring an added layer of relevance—there are no grand ballrooms or poetic soliloquies in a garden; instead, the audience is given brilliant hues, neon lights, and the relentless beat of a world too fast, too unforgiving. Working in harmony, the set design and lighting create a cohesive mood that is both claustrophobic and explosive, reflecting the internal and external pressures closing in on the characters. The soundtrack—edgy, modern, and pounding—underscores the currency of their brief love, offsetting melancholy vibrations with upbeat house music and techno.
The costumes, too, diverge from past interpretations, with each of the characters decked in modern, trendy ensembles. From a hot pink “Gift from God” baby tee to an oversized shark onesie, the actors all don garments that are representative of this generation, furthering the play’s initiative to appeal to the here and now.
While the setup itself is electric, it is the performances that hold true static, with Connor and Zegler embodying not just love but the recklessness, confusion, and rebellion of youth. The actors’ chemistry is tangible throughout, no matter where one sits in the theater, making the well-anticipated ending even more gut-wrenching and visceral. The supporting cast is equally captivating, with Mecrutio’s, played by Gabby Beans, wild charisma and Tybalt’s, portrayed by Tommy Dorfman, simmering anger, adding positively to the changed atmosphere.
Grossing over a million dollars each week since its opening previews in September, Romeo + Juliet is the farthest thing from stereotypical. The language of the play is modernized, the violence sharp, and the love story stripped of its romantic sheen, revealing a bleaker truth: in a world that does not listen to its youth, they are bound to burn out. It is a production that evokes the weight of generational frustration, miscommunication, and despair, reminding the audience that even centuries later, the story hits hard, and now more than ever, the kids are not alright.
