Romeo + Juliet co-stars Rachel Zegler and Kit Connor are dishing on the highly-anticipated stage show after it debuted last week on Broadway.
They play the titular star-crossed lovers in the modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragic tale directed by Tony Award-winner Sam Gold, which will run through February 2025.
On Monday’s episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the duo spoke in detail about performing at the Circle in the Square Theatre and how the in-the-round setup allows for interesting audience interactions.
‘You can see everybody and what’s been really wonderful, we’re only a few previews in, but it’s so awesome to feel like you really have an audience,’ Rachel told Fallon.
She revealed that viewers in the front row will respond ‘verbally’ to the lines uttered during the show.
Romeo + Juliet co-stars Rachel Zegler and Kit Connor are dishing on the highly-anticipated play after it debuted last week on Broadway
‘There’s a line I say, “Was ever book containing such vital matter so fairly bound?” And someone was in the front row going, “No,”‘ Rachel recalled, adding: ‘It was awesome.’
Kit said the ‘exact same thing’ happened to him before.
‘I had the exact same thing with, I think, the same person on the same night,’ the British hunk said.
‘I was like, end of a massive fight, I’m sort of there panting like not sure what to do. And then I just hear like, “Romeo, walk away.”
‘My immediate thought was just like, “Wow, she’s really into it,”‘ Kit said with a laugh.
Romeo + Juliet began preview performances last Thursday at the Circle in the Square Theatre. The plays marks both Rachel and Kit’s Broadway debuts.
A month before previews began, Romeo + Juliet received a four-week extension due to high demand.
They play the titular star-crossed lovers in the modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragic tale directed by Tony Award winner Sam Gold, which will run through February 2025
On Monday’s episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon , the duo spoke in detail about performing at the Circle in the Square Theatre and how the in-the-round setup allows for interesting audience interactions
The show was initially slated to run through January 2025, but dates have since been added through February 16.
The show’s Instagram account, @romeojuliet, shared with fans on August 28: ‘We’re extending 4 weeks on Broadway — and you can get early access to new tickets via our fan newsletter. If you haven’t already, sign up at link in bio.’
Zegler excitedly shared the news with her 2.2 million followers via her Instagram Story that same day.
She danced in a purple crop top with the Romeo and Juliet script in-hand and shared her thoughts in a caption.
‘When you’re making your Broadway debut with your dream director at your favorite Broadway theatre with the best cast and then people wanna see it SO badly you extend for a whole MONTH so now you get to do it until February 16,’ she wrote.
The Snow White sensation added a string of smiley emoji with red hearts.
She also noted, ‘There isn’t a happier girl in the world this morning.’
Rehearsals recently kicked off ahead of the opening night show on October 24.
A month before previews began last Thursday, Romeo + Juliet received a four-week extension due to high demand
Tommy Dorfman, who is also part of the play, wrote in the Romeo & Juliet Instagram page’s caption announcing the extension news, ‘we are??????????’
And Rachel joined in, cleverly commenting, ‘art thou???????’
Rachel and Kit initially got fans excited about their show back in April when they posted the respective letters R and J on their social media pages.
Connor posted the letter R, while Zegler posted the letter J, with interlocking halves of an addition sign on their posts.
Both geotagged the posts as Verona, the location of the Shakespearean story.
A trailer was then released in May, showing a spin on the timeless production that sees the two lead stars in modern day suburbia.
