Kit Connor and Rachel Zegler Celebrate First Performance of Broadway'sRomeo + Julietat Stage Door Bash (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Kit Connor kisses Rachel Zegler’s forehead after the two made their Broadway debut in ‘Romeo + Juliet’.Photo:Emilio Madrid

Emilio Madrid

The streets of Broadway erupted in celebration as Gen-Z iconsKit ConnorandRachel Zeglertook their first bows in the starry revival ofRomeo + Juliet.

Director Sam Gold offers a bold new take onWilliam Shakespeare’s classic in the production, which kicked off its preview performances on Thursday, Sept. 26, at the Circle in the Square Theatre ahead of an opening on Thursday, Oct. 24.

The cast of Broadway’s ‘Romeo + Juliet’.Emilio Madrid

With so much fresh energy around the Bard’s beloved romantic tragedy, it’s no wonder the show’s producer Seaview tried something different with another tried-and-true Broadway tradition: the stage door autographs.

Rather than offer the usual line,Romeo + Julietthrew a party outside the theater, withDJ Amber Valentineliterally putting a new spin on the experience and turning their corner of West 50th Street into a big bash.

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The stage door outside Broadway’s ‘Romeo + Juliet’.Emilio Madrid

Nearly 1,000 eager fans from the sold out, standing room only audience stuck around for the sudden soirée, greeting the cast’s arrival with absolute pandemonium.

According to source at the show, the cheers for the cast “nearly drowned out Elphaba’s legendary ‘Defying Gravity’ war cry next door” atWicked.

“One fan even passed out from the sheer excitement of seeing Kit Connor in person,” the insider said.

Kit Connor after his first performance in Broadway’s ‘Romeo + Juliet’.Emilio Madrid

Festivities continued at an exclusive underground party in the subway station at eaterySee No Evil Pizzaand cocktail barNothing Really Matters. There, Gold toasted the cast on the success of the evening.

Rachel Zegler after the premiere performance of Broadway’s ‘Romeo + Juliet’.Emilio Madrid

Romeo + Juliet’s cast is largely made up of newcomers making their Broadway debuts, including Connor, 20, and Zegler, 23.

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

Fans outside the first performance of Broadway’s ‘Romeo + Juliet’.Emilio Madrid

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Romeo + Juliet, which also features movement from Tony winner Sonya Tayeh, is currently scheduled for a strictly limited engagement through Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025.

The work, first published in 1597, follows the tragic romance of two Italian teens from feuding families. It’s a story that has been told on Broadway in nearly 40 previous productions, including its most recent revival in 2013 that starredOrlando BloomandCondola Rashad.

Rachel Zegler signs autographs after the premiere of Broadway’s ‘Romeo + Juliet’.Emilio Madrid

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 — coincidentally starring Zegler.

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

Tickets forRomeo + Julietare now on sale.

source: people.com