Parker Arts Academy debuts high school production of & Juliet

Students given rare opportunity to shape musical adaptation for high school audiences

Apr. 17, 2026 at 8:40pm

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A bold, abstract illustration featuring stark black silhouettes of theatrical masks or character profiles set against a high-contrast background of solid red and white geometric shapes, conceptually representing the characters and themes of the musical & Juliet.Parker Arts Academy students bring their own interpretations to the high school adaptation of the Broadway musical & Juliet, exploring themes of independence and self-acceptance.Janesville Today

Selected as one of a limited number of schools nationwide, Parker Arts Academy is piloting the high school version of the Broadway musical & Juliet, giving students the chance to help adapt the show for their community. The production, which explores Juliet finding independence through modern pop songs, is an empowering story that resonates with the school's LGBTQ+ students.

Why it matters

This pilot production allows Parker Arts Academy students to put their own creative stamp on a currently running Broadway musical, providing a unique opportunity to shape how the show is adapted for high school audiences. The story's themes of self-discovery and LGBTQ+ representation also make it an important and relevant production for the local community.

The details

The show's director, Colin Swanson, said the pilot production required a high-quality product, so they brought in sound and lighting experts to work with the 24 students cast in the show. The students have been rehearsing since October and had to come up with their own interpretations of the characters, as the licensing process prohibits replicating the Broadway version. For example, the non-binary character of May is being played by a student who was born female but doesn't identify as female, giving the role a different personal meaning.

  • Parker Arts Academy has been rehearsing the show since October 2025.
  • The high school production of & Juliet will debut on April 17, 2026 and run through April 25, 2026.

The players

Parker Arts Academy

A high school in Janesville, Wisconsin that was selected by Musical Theatre International to pilot the high school version of the Broadway musical & Juliet.

Colin Swanson

The director of the Parker Arts Academy production of & Juliet, who has worked with the students to prepare them for the audition process and the pilot production.

Abigail Dalton

A Parker Arts Academy student playing the role of Anne Hathaway in the production, who is excited to bring the character she saw on Broadway to life on her own stage.

Max Chitek

A Parker Arts Academy student playing the non-binary character of May, who is approaching the role from his own personal perspective as someone who was born female but doesn't identify as female.

Kylie Falk

A Parker Arts Academy student playing the maternal character of Angelique, who enjoys the connection she has with the actress playing Juliet since they have known each other since they were young.

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What they’re saying

“The idea of actually getting to step into those shoes and become those characters–I just never thought I would be able to do it. It's been such a fun time getting to create my own character, even different from Broadway, and it's been a lot of fun.”

— Abigail Dalton, Student playing Anne Hathaway

“We relate to it so much, especially now and getting that out into the community to like the community, especially with what's happening in our world. People will be able to see that message and have it in the back of their mind that it's okay to just accept who you are.”

— Max Chitek, Student playing May

“I'm able to even just be myself a little bit in my character, because I have a strong connection with her. So it's just nice to be able to have that connection for each show– we can just be ourselves a little bit, while still being our characters.”

— Kylie Falk, Student playing Angelique

What’s next

The high school production of & Juliet at Parker Arts Academy will run for four performances from April 17-25, 2026.

The takeaway

This pilot production at Parker Arts Academy showcases how high school students can put their own creative spin on a Broadway musical, bringing an empowering story of self-discovery and LGBTQ+ representation to their local community. The unique opportunity to shape the adaptation process has been an invaluable experience for the cast.