Nick Drake in the North American Tour of & JULIET (Photo by Matthew Murphy)
RICH LOPEZ | Staff writer
Rich@DallasVoice.com
Have you ever listened to a famous story and thought, “What if?”
Six does that somewhat in giving the ex-wives of Henry VIII the chance to tell their own stories and reclaim their own history. And then there is Wicked, which is based on a book and gives us a look at the Wicked Witch’s story before she became, well, you know, wicked.
Well, Emmy-Award-winning writer David West Reid of Schitt’s Creek fame has done just that with the musical & Juliet, where Romeo’s love takes a whole different path away from Shakespeare’s long-storied soulmates, all set to the music of pop songwriter Max Martin.
& Juliet opened Tuesday, Jan. 28, at the Music Hall at Fair Park and runs through Feb. 9.
In this new story, Juliet has a soundtrack of pop anthems as she finds a second chance at love and life. But so do the story’s other characters.
Actor Nick Drake (they/them) said they are glad that their role as May gives them the chance to offer up some unique representation.
“I love playing May because they don’t want to hide, and May has taught me that I can’t hide nor do I want to,” Drake said. “Being an openly and active queer person in sight is important, and I intend to look as divine as I really feel both onstage and not.”
The show also has Dallas ties. The lead role of Juliet is played by Dallas native Rachel Webb, a musical theater major who graduated from Texas State in 2020.
Webb participated in local talent shows in her hometown of De Soto, with much of her training coming from her high school choral programs at De Soto High School and Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts as well as The Black Academy of Arts and Letters, also known as TBAAL.
As Juliet’s nonbinary friend May, Drake has brought a specific energy to their role that, they say, allows them to bring their entire spectrum to the stage.
Drake, who identifies as Black, genderfluid and queer, also says that they are glad this role allows them to bring both queer joy and a happy ending all in one.
“There is so much celebration here, but also, the character gets attacked for who they are,” Drake said. “There’s a scene that happens in a public bathroom and that, in real life, is a scary place, especially as a Black, queer femme person.
“But what I love most is how I can encapsulate all my spectrum in this role.”
The 27-year-old admits that there is a powerful feeling to being onstage as May but also says it echoes their own personal perspectives.
Drake has embraced a style that is neither masculine or feminine — or perhaps their style is both. But their looks aren’t just a fashion statement. Drake’s fluidity comes off with a strong confidence and pride.
“What I love about myself and my body is how soft I can be but with a strong personality. I’m muscular, and I work out, and I love the gym person that I am.
“But I also beat my face and wear heels and, like May, I can be pretty and masculine and the queer fairy I was always destined to be,” Drake said.
Drake has been playing the bold character with the tour since August. But then, an election happened.
“We were in Boston at that time and, seriously, it was one of the hardest shows I ever had to do,” they said. “I was genuinely scared because I don’t really know anyone outside the cast.
“It can be hard to be seen so visibly as a queer person and I hear snickers when I’m onstage.
But really, that makes me want to actively enjoy my job as much as I can. Queer people aren’t going anywhere, and I have to be evidence of that.”
And having played May, Drake is now embarking on a future career where they will only seek out characters that align with their identity — not just for their own sake, but for that needed representation.
Perhaps, this is Drake’s form of activism.
“It’s important to go to these different states — especially red states — and let people see this happy queer ending,” they said. “And coming to Texas, I’ve been so happy that the audience has been loving me, and we had thunderous applause on our first night in Dallas.
“Art is one of the most revolutionary acts,” they continued. “You know, I have to remind myself that queer people have been fighting so much, and, if we have to keep doing it, I don’t mind being on the front lines.
“I refuse to go back to a time where I’m not fully accepted and allowed to feel joy for being as beautiful as I can be.”
For tickets, visit BroadwayDallas.org.