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Paulo Szot and Melanie La Barrie Are Shaking Up Shakespeare in & JULIET
May 17, 2024
Shakespeare is getting a re-write. This fall, andamp; Juliet will finally arrive on Broadway, flipping the script on the greatest love story ever told, to the iconic pop anthems of Max Martin. Two of its stars are Broadway favorite Paulo Szot and direct from the West End, Melanie La Barrie, who play Lance and the Nurse. In this video, catch up with the pair as they continue their run in Toronto and get ready to take the show on the road to New York City.
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Welcome to Backstage with Richard Ridge and Juliet is the award-winning coming-of-age stage musical
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featuring the music of Swedish pop songwriter Max Martin with a book by David West Reed
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The story focuses on a what-if scenario where Juliet does not die at the end of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
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It continues to be one of the West End's most successful musicals and a new North American production is now playing in Toronto
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and will transfer to Broadway's Stephen Sondheim Theater with previews beginning on October 28th
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and will open on November 17th. And my guests are two of the show stars, buckets
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Melanie LaBarry, who did the show in London and my friend, Hello Shot
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Welcome you to. How are you? It's great to be here. Well, Mel, it is great to meet you
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I had the privilege of seeing the show in London right before the pandemic
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So like I said, you have brought me so much joy, and I'm so thrilled now that you're coming to Broadway in this
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and that my friend Palo Schott has joined the company with this
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So my first question for both of you is, how are you and where are you? Mel, we'll start with you
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Well, I'm currently in my apartment in, well, I'll call it my flat
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we're in Toronto at the moment because we're performing at the Princess of Wales Theatre
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doing our out-of-town trial, Yes, you call it. I mean, I'm learning so many new things about what things are called
1:30
and how things work over here. So we're having a fantastic time
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We had our opening night just a few days ago. And we've just been having the most joyous experience here in Toronto
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Palo, for you. Yeah, it's my second time here in Toronto, the first time I came here years ago to do an opera and now with Aunt Juliet
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So as Mel said, we are all living together. in this beautiful hotel, very close to the theater
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five minutes walk, we are of course very late all the time. I'm late all the time, because we are so close
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But we have this a great time. It's a great, great company with so many talented artists
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that I am getting to know, and we are creating this one family of Angela together here in Toronto
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So it's a very special place, and I'm sure that when we leave, we will remember
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spread this place as a very dear one. Well, let's talk about how magical opening night was
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Mel, I'll start with you. You've had incredible opening nights with this in London
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but what was it like the other night in Toronto? I've had now three, well, maybe we can even say four opening nights
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because we've had, you know, one in Manchester where we opened the show. And then we had our opening night in London
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then our reopening when we came back after the pandemic, which was extraordinarily special
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and then here in Toronto, my goodness, I mean, the theatre is huge
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and it is a larger house than the one we play in London. And the people of Toronto have opened their hearts and their minds
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and just their spirits to our, I like to call it a little show
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It is in fact not a little show. But for me, it's still a little show made of very delicate stories
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and they really have embraced us with the fullness of their being here in Toronto
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And that opening night was so magical, it was so wild. It was everything that I think we wanted for this material
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and everything that I wanted for my new playmates doing this show with me
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because I know what this show can be. And so it was a real treat and a pleasure
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watching everybody experience that too. Hello, for you. Well, when I first received the material
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I was in New York, in Chicago, and I went to meet Luke, the director. And I remember reading the script for the first time
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And this is a script that you fall in love immediately. It's not one of those that you have to take a second take
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Oh, let me read it. Again, no, this is it. You know, we just start to laugh along with the lines
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As you're reading, you start to cry along. And especially, I was concentrated, of course
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on my character to know to get, how is the arch of this character
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So every time I went to certain scenes, I started to cry
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I say, maybe this is good. And then I went to meet with Luke and read some scenes for him
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and he started to sing the songs. And I was immediate great connection right away
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And I absolutely, as I said, I felt in love with the material
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And then getting to rehearse for a few days in New York
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because I didn't, unfortunately, I wasn't able to be in New York all the time. But I was there for three days
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And where I met, the first I met Mel, and we started to rehearse in our scenes and other scenes
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But getting to do the show here, you know, the live audience and even from the first preview that we of course we consider this as our opening
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you know we have a live audience and this is the most important thing to have for an actor an audience
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so the reaction was fantastic you know the people here loved every bit of the show and we were so glad
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that we we were able to do a show that bring so much joy to people especially at
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at this time after the pandemic, after such a long period without having people to be able to come to theaters
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Mel, let's talk about the fans. I mean, both of you, but Mel knows the N. Juliet fans
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from Manchester and then, of course, the West End. I know people who are flying in from New York
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have already been up to Toronto, but like, I'm going there, my friend, some London, like, we're flying in Toronto
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So talk about the fan base for this show. I mean, they are, they are, they are
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I always saw I think of this show in terms of in cricket terms because you know I from the Caribbean and I also lived in London for a long time So I like so into cricket And I always say that you know the audience we always we make something and then we wait for our 12th man which is the audience to come in and join the making of it
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Because when we make a show, we make it in concert with the people coming to watch us
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And our fans have taken that. They understand their role in this show so perfectly
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They know how important they are. They know that we could, do whatever we want and we can try on darkness but we can't make this thing in its entirety in its
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wholeness without them and they know their job and they have taken it they know that they are
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literally we make this for them they are the seed of this story they see themselves in every character
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each person becomes young old like everybody they come they see it not just
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Indy players, not just in the friends. They see it in everybody on the stage
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And so they understand that they are so important in this process
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I love them with every fiber of my being. I used to squeal sometimes to forget myself
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When I saw them in the audience, all dressed up in their Anne costumes or in their Juliet or in their Romeo jackets
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I think I even saw a nurse once and I was like, yeah, finally made it. somebody did a cosplay of the sea
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It's so wonderful because they really get it. They get it. They know
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And it's so exciting. When they message me and they say, I'm coming from Korea to see it in New York or I'm coming from
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And I feel so humble that they've joined this family like this
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It really, it fills my heart so much. I absolutely love them
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I think we have the best fans in the whole white world. Hello for you with this new fan base for N. Juliet
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You know, I absolutely agree. And because this is such a show with so many aspects in it, you know, you can, as Mel said
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you can identify yourself with so many people on stage and you can learn from watching people
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that are different than you on stage, exposing their lives. And I think that's what, you know, gets most of people, you know, to see
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the diversity on this show and how the show talks about it so openly, and the show actually is about that
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So it is very interesting to see the reaction of people on stage so far
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going through the emotional process of many of the characters in the show
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So as well, as they start to dance along and to sing along is fantastic, you know
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because from my experience, it's very different from what I had before
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in my life as an opera singer or are doing musicals that I did so far
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But this is absolutely different. This is a show that the people are all connected
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and they feel free to participate on the plot and to react and to sing and to dance a lot
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It's such a clever musical. When I saw this in London, I was like, boy, this is how it's done
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I mean, I want to talk about, let's talk about the roles you play first. Mel, talk about who you play without give it too much away
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Okay. If you know Romeo and Juliet, you know that Juliet has a nurse
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And so therefore, I bring that character to life. She also has a name in this iteration of Aunt Juliet, and she's called Angelique
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So I play Juliet's nurse and confidant, and when Juliet decides to take her story in a new direction
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she decides to take along a little core of friends with her, and the nurse is one of them
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And as we go along through the show, you realize that the nurse also has her own history and her own life and her own questions that remain unanswered
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So she has a little adventure that she gets to go along with as well
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I love it. Palo for you. I play a character called Lance, who is introduced at a certain point in the story to portray this father that is absolutely
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worried about his son that is not getting married. He's trying to do everything for him
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And he absolutely doesn't understand what is going on and why this is not working
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So he starts to lose his patient with his sons. Of course, he does everything that he can, parties and money and everything, but still doesn't work
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We see him in a certain traditional way, being the traditional dad
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You know, so there are things that he, of course, we will not expect that will happen to him by the end of the story
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but I don't want to give it too much. But then he's a very, well, we see him very concerned about that
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That's his main priority. And then, you know, David Reed writes a big curve on the trajectory of this role
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and he starts to feel. things again as he felt in when he was younger
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So without saying much more about it, it's a great trajectory for a role that many of the dads
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on the audience can connect and can see themselves too. Because I was saying, what is it like living in this magical world
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at End Juliet? I mean, the incredible pop songs by Max Martin
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I mean, Mel, I mean, talk about the songs that you sing. in this
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I would never in my wildest dreams think that I would be heading towards my half century of life
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and be singing these songs. And to get to work with the incredible music team
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to get to work with Bill Sherman, you know, Dominic Falcaro and the incredible Max Martin
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to be able to sing a teenage dream and to be a part of Dominic Falcara
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and show me love and blow. You know, I got a, Jennifer Weber has me given my best
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choreographic life. I mean never have been danced in this style in my life And I come at this advanced age to have to try to do it So that you know it a show of fuss you know because for the first time we have to do this all these things
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And I get to sing music from Pink as well in one of my favorite moments of this show
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where I get to tell the truth and do it in a really sassy way
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Okay, so talk about that Pink song. What's it called? Well, can I say the word
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Can I say, but do I have a thing? Do I do the... So it's called perfect
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but it's like... It's got a better cussing in it. Actually, it's like a really strong cuss word
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and say it in the show. And in, you know, you would think
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that it's gratuitous and it really isn't because... And because that it's set by this character as well
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I think it's what makes it extraordinary because it is a culmination
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of a long journey and it comes right at the end and it really sums up
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and it's not about this character at all, it sums of what we
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all think about our main character what we all think about Juliet
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and it comes at exactly the right time and it's said with I think heart
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I hope that I deliver it with heart and a sensitivity and so yeah so Mom
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and Cousin on Broadway, but I think we do it in the right way
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Oh, it's a brilliant moment in the show. Palo, for you, movie from the pop world
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and musical theater world to the pop world. Tell me about it
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Wow, it is absolutely funny. You know, we had a discussion in the beginning of the rehearsals
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what should I do with my voice in this role? And they absolutely said, go for it
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Just sing it out. That's what I'm doing. So I think it fits my character in a way because he is different than the rest
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He comes from, he likes to dress differently than the rest. So why not to sing differently than the rest
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So it was great to embrace that my full voice into these songs
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And Max Martin gave the permission, of course, to do itself. But of course there are moments where I go deep down and try to be intimate, especially
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by the end of the show when I sing in the shape of my heart. Is that like, that's a killer moment for you in this show
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Is that one of your favorite moments in the show? Yeah, I think so. You know, there are many favorite moments in the show
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There are moments there I have so much joy and, and I don't know how to describe
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It's something that I never did in my life on stage. It feels like I'm having just fun
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And, but if not, it's my job. But, and then I get to sing with these incredible people like Mel
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and to share this great scene together and to have fun. The most fun for me is when I am with Mel
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But of course, the other funny moments too. But I think from the emotional point of view, shape of my heart is the biggest thing for me
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that really gets me while I'm performing and I have to think to not cry
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Just seeing. We heard your favorite moments that you each do. What's another favorite moment that's in the show
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that someone else does that you love? Mel, I'll start with you. Oh, gosh
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I mean, like for me, I love everything that Lorna and Betsy do
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I'm such massive fans. I'm such a massive fan girl of two of them
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I'm just running around behind them, just throwing confetti at them every time I get a chance
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because I'm such a fan. But for me, one of my favorite, favorite moments in the show
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is when May and Francois sing, what do you want from me
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And it comes at the start of the second half. And it's explosive in a way that it's
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and it's not like a big musical theater moment. It's a real moment of high drama
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where these two characters have one of the most honest conversations through songs that anybody
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And it's so simple as well because it's just the two of them on stage, really facing up to each other
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It's one of my favorite songs. It's one of my favorite moments. It's beautifully performed by Philippe and Justin
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And every time I am wrapped, you know, just inside. I'm side of stage
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and I just, I can't, I've pulled my breath for almost that entire number because it is so spectacular
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Yeah. Palo, for you. Well, I don't have actually a single favorite moment
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I'm blown away with every single number in the show. And because
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the songs, they are not just songs, they fit so well in the
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script, in the story, the storytelling. They are, we I all know these songs from the radio and from pop artists
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but the way they were inserted into the script to tell the story
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it's absolutely a thing that blows me away. You know, there is not one single phrase in the songs
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that is not part of the story. So maybe in the future, when I get more accustomed to the show
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I'll get a favorite moment, but right now I'm just shocked. It's everything. It's absolutely
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You know, with the pandemic, none of us knew when we were coming back, if you were coming back as artists
19:03
I mean, it must have been devastating for both of you. Palo and I spoke during the pandemic
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We zoomed and did one of these. But, I mean, it must be so great for you to have a musical like Anne's Juliet that is so beloved and so connects to an audience
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Just tell me what it means to you to be back on stage again in this show, bringing so much joy with your audience
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It was everything. The thing about the pandemic, because I was the
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I was one of the equity deputies on the show. And so we carried on working during the pandemic
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to make sure in concert with all the equity deputies to make sure that people were well taken care of I was also at the time on the Equity Council so as part of the governing body of the union
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so I carried on making sure that I contributed to the work that was going on
20:00
to make sure that everybody in the industry or as many people as we could catch was all right
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And so it was a busy, time and heartbreaking time because, you know, we got all the bad news first
20:18
So to come back with this show just personally as a performer who heard all the bad news
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to come back with this, with this show, it meant everything to me
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And then to then be afforded this opportunity post-pandemic to come here, to come here
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to come to Toronto, to come and play with my beloved Paolo
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who's just my whole heart. And we really do. We spend such precious moments on stage
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So to be able to come back and share this moment with the people
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my beloved's in London and not my beloved's here, it's everything to me, absolutely everything
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Paolo for you. Yeah, you know, to be. among this company that we have so many very young artists
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Some of them are going to have their first Broadway show, you know, literally
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And to be able to work with people like Mel, to share the stage, the scenes, and not only the stage
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and also to work with these people with so much expectation in life, you know
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having their first big job on broadly. It's an incredible experience. And I think for us that we're working before and were interrupted by the pandemic
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of course, we became in a way, as we always do, after something tragic happens to you, stronger
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And we know more about life. We know more about our business
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We know more about everything in the world, our neighbors, our friends
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But for these people that are fresh starting, you know, just to be with them at this time
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and to experience their excitement, you know, it's such a blessing, really, to be in this company with this show with such a great message
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It's not just a show with beautiful songs that you're going to sing. You're going to think about things in life that really matter
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And to be on stage with them telling that story, it's a very important thing to me right now in my life
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Mel, you're coming to Broadway. I was just about to say, it's not just the young people making their Broadway debut
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old people are making their Broadway debut as well. I cannot believe it
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I never thought about it. I never thought it would happen. I never, I was, you know, like happily, you know, I make a lot of brand new British musicals
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I've been, you know, in the original company, have lots of shows in the West End
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And it's great. And I love it. And when these shows go to Broadway, I love seeing the performers who get to do it
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And I go, oh, my God, they look amazing. They sound amazing. That's fantastic. And I really enjoy that
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I also enjoy making work that, making a space. for other women like me to have a space on stage
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That makes me really happy. So now to make a new character
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and to get a chance to bring it, I can't, I still can't believe it
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It's like a dream. I don't know. Well, don't forget that day
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because Palo knows what Broadway debuts are like. They only happen once and remember that entire day
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because I'm gonna see you on opening night. And I'm gonna ask you, what your whole day was like and what you were thinking of
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when you took that bow opening night on Broadway. It's going to be magical for you, Melas
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Palo knows what it was like for him. Absolutely unforgettable. And the community is so nice to you
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You know, I didn't know when I had my debut on Broadway 14 years ago
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but coming from a totally different environment that was opera. And to have everyone embracing me and accepting this
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stranger that was coming to do this musical that is waiting for so many decades to come back
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So absolutely something that you'll never forget. And I'm sure you have the same experience, my dear Mel
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Because I remember the first day we were in the rehearsal room and I got to interview Paolo
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and I was like, and I think I told you that day, get ready. Remember the journey that you're on because it's going to be nothing like this
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And just to have been able to been there from the beginning with you to follow your journey
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through your Broadway debut was magical. And Mel, I'll do the same thing with you
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when you get here too. Thank you. Thank you so much. I mean, it's just, yeah
25:15
I will take your advice and thank you so much for telling me that because, you know, sometimes you could get caught up
25:20
in doing the work and it's just the work, the work, the work. But thank you for that. It's a very timely reminder
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that sometimes we should stop and say, actually, let me remember what this feels like
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because I've never been doing this again. It'll help you that day. Don't you worry about a thing
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It's going to be magical. But once again, N. Juliet is currently playing in Toronto
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and will begin previews on October 28th, and opening night is November 17th at the Stephen Sondheim Theater
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Thank you, Mel and Palo. This has been great catching up with both of you. Thank you so much for having us
25:53
Stay well, everyone, and we'll see you on opening night for End Juliet
25:57
Take care, everyone. I guess you have
26:07
I'm going to have a man to be. But since you've been gone
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I'm getting ready for the first time I'm so moving on
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