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TPAC Announces New Season As Broadway Hit "& Juliet" Makes Much-Anticipated Debut in Nashville
by Rich and Laura Lynch
It's time to jump in the DeLorean and head to the future as the 2025/2026 TPAC season was announced on February 11, 2025 just as the Broadway hit & Juliet made its debut at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) in Nashville. One of the shows revealed to be on the upcoming calendar was "Back to the Future: The Musical" which explained the presence of the shiny, stainless steel movie prop with the flux capacitor that greeted patrons as they entered the venue on Tuesday night.
"& Juliet" reimagined an ancient and fabled story with fabulous, modern music.
& Juliet is on a national tour which included a stop at the TPAC running from February 11th through the 16th. The play is a creation by the Emmy-winning writer from Schitt's Creek. This comical musical changes the narrative of the greatest love story ever told by asking what would happen if Juliet didn't end it all over Romeo? Juliet's next chapter is told through a playlist of pop anthems as iconic as her name, including "Since U Been Gone‚" "Roar," "Baby One More Time," "Larger Than Life‚" "That's The Way It Is" and "Can't Stop the Feeling!"
During Act One, William Shakespeare is introduced by the cast at his first production of Romeo and Juliet. We also meet Shakespeare's wife, Anne Hathaway, who is visiting from Stratford-upon-Avon to see the play. She suggests he change the ending, wondering what would have happened if Juliet did not take her own life, much to Shakespeare's displeasure ("I Want It That Way"). Nevertheless, Shakespeare listens to Anne's ideas which begins with Juliet waking up to find Romeo dead ("...Baby One More Time"). From there the tale takes lots of twists and turns told through many animated musical numbers.
In addition to the star Juliet (Rachel Simone Webb) we are introduced to her friends along with a number of new acquaintances that they met in France. William and Anne craft various accounts which the cast dance and sing to. The love interests get complicated touching upon gender roles. Later, Romeo turns up alive and desires to reconcile with Juliet. The Shakespeares seem to be using their plots to express the state of their own marriage. Yet it is the story of the young lovers that is central so the writers agree that there does not need to be a conclusive ending, rather a new beginning as the company performed the closing song "Can't Stop the Feeling!" which was one of many popular singles featured in this colorful production.
TPAC President and CEO Jennifer Turner was on hand to open the proceedings by calling the upcoming 45th anniversary season of live theater truly "transformative", adding that, "the TPAC has brought stories to life on our stages, creating unforgettable memories and fostering connections that inspire and entertain. The 25/26 season will have timeless classics along with contemporary new works that honor our past, reflect our present and look towards the future as America approaches its 250th birthday."
The festive atmosphere continued at the James K. Polk Theater that was set up with backdrops and a few props for folks to take photos in advance of upcoming shows. Their calendar includes six Nashville premieres, a new take on a classic fairytale and one story with impactful historical ties to Music City. The HCA Healthcare/TriStar Health Broadway at TPAC season will also feature a reimagined version of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast," "Hamilton," "The Wiz," "Some Like it Hot," "Water for Elephants," "The Outsiders" and "Suffs." Plus, "Les Miserables", "Six" and "The Book of Mormon" will be presented in limited return engagements to round out the year in fine fashion.
Thank you to the nonprofit TPAC for hosting & Juliet. Since 1980, the TPAC has presented a wide array of Broadway musicals, concerts and more. The TPAC supports the community with classroom residencies, enrichment programs, teacher resources and more. So come on down to the TPAC for Broadway productions such as & Juliet and check out their website for more information on both the 24/25 and 25/26 seasons.
The upcoming 2025/2026 season at the TPAC could be its best yet.
Related Links:
For more information on & JULIET and the other organizations mentioned please visit the following links -
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