Rachel Zegler and Kit Connor Kick Off Rehearsals for Broadway'sRomeo + Juliet— See the Pics from Their First Day

Mar. 15, 2025

Rachel Zegler and Kit Connor.Photo:Emilio Madrid

Emilio Madrid

Rachel ZeglerandKit Connorare that much closer totheir Broadway debuts!

The two actors — she of the upcoming live actionSnow Whitefilm and he, known for his role inHeartstopper— are starring in a new production of William Shakespeare’sRomeo + Juliet. And on Monday, Aug. 12, the pair gathered together with the rest of the cast, creatives and production team for their first day of rehearsals in New York City.

Zegler, 23, and Connor, 20, were all smiles in the pictures, even posing together for one sweet shot.

The pictures also showed the two stars laughing as they stood together with company members and the musical’s creative team, including choreographer Sonya Tayeh, who will be designing movement for the show, andGrammy AwardwinnerJack Antonoff, who will be penning original music used in the production.

The cast and creative team of Broadway’s ‘Romeo + Juliet,’ including Kit Connor, Rachel Zegler and Jack Antonoff.Emilio Madrid

Performances forRomeo + Julietbegin Thursday, Sept. 26 at the Circle in the Square Theatre, ahead of an official opening on Thursday, Oct. 24. The show is currently scheduled for a strictly limited engagement through Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025.

The Bard’s 1597 classic follows the tragic romance of two Italian teens from feuding families. The play has been on Broadway in nearly 40 previous productions, including its most recent revival in 2013 that starredOrlando BloomandCondola Rashad.

It was also the inspiration forWest Side Story, Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim’s award-winning musical that was most recently adapted into a 2021Steven Spielbergfilm starring Zegler.

“The youth are f—ed,” a logline for the new Broadway production reads. “Left to their own devices in their parents’ world of violent ends, an impulsive pair of star-crossed lovers hurtle towards their inescapable fate. The intoxicating high of passion quickly descends into a brutal chaos that can only end one way.”

Rachel Zegler, Sam Gold and Kit Connor.Emilio Madrid

Just this week,Voguepublished an interviewwith Zegler and Connor in which he admitted to being “bloody nervous” to take on the role, but excited for the challenge it presented.

“I’m so thrilled to get to go back to my roots and the thing that I love so much,” Zegler told the outlet, adding “I can’t believe this is my life.”

Both explained that they came toRomeo + Julietfor different reasons — Connor signing on because he was “craving Shakespeare” and Zegler jumping at the chance to work with Gold. The two stars didn’t really know one another until they were cast, but have been bonding already.

“Imagine if we didn’t get along?” Zegler joked.

Jack Antonoff (center) at the first rehearsal for ‘Romeo + Juliet’.Emilio Madrid

Understudies Missy Malek, Timothy Oh, Susannah Perkins and Daniel Velez round out the cast.

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The cast of ‘Romeo + Juliet’.Emilio Madrid

And while all looked happy at that first rehearsal, the tragedy ofRomeo + Julietlooms. In her conversation withVogue, Zegler even said she’s hopeful the play’s divisiveness — which hits extra hard in today’s political landscape — will be something audiences explore after leaving the theater.

“That’s what we do as artists and actors: We hold a mirror up to the world, and what they do based on that examination is up to them,” Zegler said. “I think Sam has really taken that to heart: What world are we leaving behind for future generations?”

“The youth are f—ed if the older generation doesn’t do anything about it,” she continues. “And so you hope that it serves more as a warning than as a declaration.”

Tickets forRomeo + Julietare on sale now.

source: people.com