What if Juliet never died for Romeo and instead wrote her own ending? That is the premise driving & Juliet, a musical mashup of Elizabethan drama and ’90s pop hits, when it lands at Popejoy Hall on the University of New Mexico campus for a six-day run starting Tuesday, Nov. 3, through Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026.
The touring production imagines Juliet surviving Romeo and getting a second chance at life and love on her own terms, according to Popejoy Presents. As the Albuquerque Journal describes it, the show blends Shakespearean drama with dance numbers and a soundtrack of pop anthems. Leading that reimagined Juliet is 19-year-old Fabiola Caraballo Quijada, who won the 2025 Jimmy Award for Best Performance by an Actress before joining the production's title role for the second year of its North American tour, per BroadwayWorld.
A Juliet Who Writes Her Own Ending
Quijada says she identifies with Juliet's youth, optimism and energy, and has described the show as giving the character a second chance at life and the happy ending she deserves. The young star, who considers singing her strongest suit, has also said she's danced more in this show than ever before in her life. She's said the musical reimagines familiar pop songs to fit its own story and dialogue, and that its varied characters can make audience members feel seen.
The production's score leans on Max Martin, the Swedish hitmaker behind songs for Britney Spears, *NSYNC, the Backstreet Boys and other pop acts. Audiences can expect numbers 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.” The book comes from David West Read, who also wrote for Schitt's Creek and has won several Emmy Awards.
Choreography With Tony Pedigree
Choreographer Jennifer Weber made her Broadway debut with & Juliet, the same year the show opened alongside KPOP in 2022, and she earned Tony Award nominations for best choreography on both productions. The current tour itself opened in 2024.
One role worth watching for longtime fans: Lance du Bois, Juliet's former fiancé's father, originally played on Broadway by Joey Fatone, who reportedly leaned on a fake French accent in the part. Fatone later joined the touring cast himself — in Orlando for a week, then in Hartford and Chicago for two weeks, according to Quijada. At Popejoy Hall, the role belongs to Paul-Jordan Jansen, who has played Lance du Bois on tour since 2024.
Showtimes and Tickets
Performances run 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, through Thursday, Nov. 5; 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6; 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7; and 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8. The show runs 2 hours and 40 minutes, including one intermission, and carries an age recommendation of 8 and older with adult language, plus flashing or strobe lighting, loud noises, confetti cannons and pyrotechnics throughout. Tickets range from $46 to $179 and are available at popejoypresents.com.
The Albuquerque stop is part of a sprawling second tour year expected to visit more than 40 cities, following engagements in Calgary and Edmonton in September and a stop in Eugene, Oregon, earlier this month. The Journal's theater coverage of the stop was written by arts writer Logan Royce Beitmen, who covers visual art, music, fashion and theater for the paper.
