Character guide
William Shakespeare
from & Juliet
William Shakespeare is a supporting character in & Juliet, the 2022 jukebox musical set to Max Martin's songs, portrayed as a playwright wrestling with his wife over how the story should end.
- Show
- & Juliet
- Broadway premiere
- 2022
- Role
- Supporting
- Music by
- Max Martin
Looking for a different William Shakespeare? William Shakespeare in Something Rotten!
Who is William Shakespeare?
In & Juliet, William Shakespeare begins the show performing Romeo and Juliet as originally written, only to have his wife Anne Hathaway hijack the narrative and insist on a different ending. Proud of his work and initially resistant to changing it, he is gradually pulled into collaborating with Anne, arguing over plot points even as the story unfolds live in front of the audience.
His presence gives the show its meta theatrical frame, with William frequently stepping into scenes to protest choices he disagrees with, only to be won over as Juliet's new story takes shape.
William Shakespeare's role in & Juliet
William Shakespeare is a supporting role built around comic timing and sparring dialogue with Anne, functioning as both a character in the story and a kind of onstage narrator figure. The part requires a performer comfortable playing a famous historical figure as a flawed, occasionally petty artist rather than a distant icon.
Audiences remember William for the show's running joke of an author losing control of his own material, a light hearted device that lets the musical poke fun at Shakespeare's legacy while still honoring his original story.
William Shakespeare: frequently asked questions
What show is William Shakespeare from?
William Shakespeare is a supporting character in & Juliet, which opened on Broadway in 2022.
Is William Shakespeare a lead or supporting role?
William Shakespeare is a supporting role, playing the original playwright who argues with his wife over how Juliet's story should end.
Who wrote the music for & Juliet?
The score is built from songs written or co-written by pop producer Max Martin.
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