Confetti, red roses, and thunderous applause for the performers: the pop musical “& Julia” has bid Hamburg farewell on Sunday night at the Stage Theater Operettenhaus.
Approximately half a million audience members have watched the vibrant show since its Germany premiere on October 30, 2024 in the port city of Hamburg, according to Stephan Jaekel of Stage Entertainment. It marks a notable achievement, he noted, because the production managed to spark public interest in a piece that was previously entirely unknown.
The jukebox musical, stuffed with chart-topping tunes from Britney Spears, Katy Perry, and the Backstreet Boys, offered a fresh take on Shakespeare’s great romance. It asked a provocative question: how would Romeo and Juliet’s story have continued if Juliet hadn’t ended her life with a dagger after Romeo’s death? In the narrative, rather than following Romeo to the tomb, she takes control of her own fate and embarks on an adventurous journey to Paris.
A remarkably modern musical, it tackles present-day themes—from empowered women to queer love. In the farewell performance, fans surprised the cast during a scene by waving rainbow banners.
“We reached new, especially younger, audiences with this musical,” Jaekel said. “The storytelling approach and the show’s freshness were well received.”
Why not keep the production running longer in Hamburg? “A luxury problem,” Jaekel responded. “We have numerous new musicals licensed that are ready to roll and waiting for their Hamburg premiere.” The cult science-fiction film comedy “Back to the Future” will replace “& Julia” as a musical at the Operettenhaus on the Reeperbahn (March 22).
