Overview
Synopsis
Me and Juliet is Rodgers & Hammerstein's love letter to the theatre, creating a show that takes place both on and off the stage during a fictional musical appropriately also entitled Me and Juliet! Backstage, Larry, the assistant stage manager, has quietly fallen in love with chorus girl Jeanie. He has also spotted her enormous potential and convinces her to audition to become the lead’s understudy. As he coaches her, their attraction to each other suddenly cannot be ignored and they secretly marry during the show’s run. However, they must also contend with Jeanie’s violent and possessive boyfriend Bob, who threatens to kill Larry. Meanwhile, the stage manager, Mac, is battling his own feelings as he struggles to remain true to his personal rule of never dating anyone in a show he’s working on. Newcomer Betty makes that pretty hard! The drama backstage is then interspersed with scenes and songs from the show-within-a-show, Me and Juliet, until both come to their final act!
Show Information
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone, Tenor, Bass |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Alto |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Alto |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
Songs
Act One
- "A Very Special Day" – Jeanie and trio
- "That's the Way It Happens" – Jeanie and trio
- "That's the Way It Happens" (Reprise) – Larry
- "* Dance Impromptu" – Chorus, George, and trio
- "Overture to Me and Juliet" – Dario and orchestra
- "* Opening of Me and Juliet" – Lily, Jim, Susie, and Charlie
- "* Marriage Type Love" – Charlie, Lily, and singers
- "Keep It Gay" – Bob, Jim, and chorus
- "* Keep it Gay" (Reprise) – Betty and Buzz
- "The Big Black Giant" – Larry
- "No Other Love" – Jeanie and Larry
- "* Dance" – Ralph, Francine, and Elizabeth
- "The Big Black Giant" (Reprise) – Ruby
- "It's Me" – Betty and Jeanie
- "* First Act Finale" – Lily, Betty, Charlie, Jim, Jeanie, and chorus
Act Two
- "Intermission Talk" – Herbie and chorus
- "It Feels Good" – Bob
- "* We Deserve Each Other" – Betty, Jim, and dancers
- "I'm Your Girl" – Jeanie and Larry
- "* Second Act Finale" – Charlie, Lily, Betty, Jim, and chorus
- "Finale" – Company
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A period of artistic flourishing, often referring to 1940s-60s Broadway or English Renaissance theatre. This term plays a vital role in understanding theatrical structure and is commonly encountered in stagecraft or performance settings.
The “Golden Age Musical” refers to Broadway shows written roughly between the 1940s and 1960s, a period known for integrating songs, story, and character development. These musicals often balanced romance, comedy, and social themes with memorable melodies and large ensembles. Classics from this era continue to shape the foundation of modern musical theatre.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Quote Analysis
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher