Benjamin Millepied Brings a Modern Twist to "Romeo & Juliet" at the Park Avenue Armory

The acclaimed choreographer discusses his unconventional take on the classic love story and his fascination with the cabaret world.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Renowned choreographer Benjamin Millepied is returning to New York with a radical new production of "Romeo and Juliet" at the Park Avenue Armory. Millepied, who has deliberately stepped away from the city in recent years, is reframing the classic ballet as a live cinematic experience that explores love in a more plural and unbound way. In a conversation with artist Anne Imhof, who also recently presented an Armory epic that reimagined Shakespeare, Millepied discusses his creative process, his interest in the cabaret format, and how his personal experiences have shaped his approach to storytelling through dance.

Why it matters

Millepied's "Romeo and Juliet" production at the Armory represents a significant homecoming for the choreographer, who built his career in New York before deliberately distancing himself from the city. His unconventional take on the classic love story, featuring multiple casts and a cinematic staging, promises to challenge traditional notions of ballet and romance. The collaboration between Millepied and Imhof, two acclaimed artists working in different mediums, also highlights the ongoing dialogue between dance, performance, and visual art in New York's cultural landscape.

The details

For his "Romeo and Juliet" production, Millepied has opted to forgo a traditional retelling of the story, instead focusing on select elements and creating a more immersive, cinematic experience for the audience. He has moved the stage to allow the audience to walk through the backstage area, and plans to utilize the Armory's various spaces, including the upper floors and stairways, to blur the lines between performance and reality. Millepied has also chosen to work with multiple casts, including women who love women and men who love men, in order to reflect the diversity of his company and the evolving understanding of love and relationships.

  • Millepied made a short film adaptation of the "Romeo and Juliet" balcony scene in 2019, starring Margaret Qualley and Shameik Moore.
  • Millepied's "Romeo and Juliet" production at the Park Avenue Armory will open on the same day as the release of his 2019 short film.

The players

Benjamin Millepied

A 48-year-old French choreographer who has forged a career in New York and is now returning to the city with a radical new production of "Romeo and Juliet" at the Park Avenue Armory.

Anne Imhof

A German artist whose own Armory epic, "DOOM: House of Hope", dismantled Shakespeare through durational performance.

Margaret Qualley

An American actress who starred in Millepied's 2019 short film adaptation of the "Romeo and Juliet" balcony scene.

Shameik Moore

An American actor who also starred in Millepied's 2019 short film adaptation of the "Romeo and Juliet" balcony scene.

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What they’re saying

“I made the film in 2019 with Margaret Qualley and Shameik Moore. I did the balcony scene and I set it in L.A. today with a kind of modern take on it. So I was already playing with the idea of, how do you retell this universal love story in a new way?”

— Benjamin Millepied (Interview Magazine)

“I really just have both the luxury of doing exactly what I'm interested in. I think it's really a luxury, versus taking commissions and making them in circumstances that aren't ideal.”

— Benjamin Millepied (Interview Magazine)

What’s next

Millepied's "Romeo and Juliet" production at the Park Avenue Armory is set to open in the coming months, marking his highly anticipated return to the New York stage.

The takeaway

Millepied's unconventional approach to "Romeo and Juliet", blending ballet, cinema, and diverse representations of love, reflects a broader trend in the arts towards more inclusive and boundary-pushing reinterpretations of classic works. His collaboration with fellow artist Anne Imhof also highlights the ongoing dialogue between dance, performance, and visual art in New York's vibrant cultural landscape.