Joey Fatone Joins Broadway’s ‘& Juliet,’ Where He’ll Sing Backstreet Boys (and NSYNC) Songs

Joey Fatone is returning to Broadway for the first time in two decades, joining the company of the jukebox musical “& Juliet.”

The revisionist take on Shakespeare’s classic tale of star-crossed lovers is set to Swedish mega-producer Max Martin’s library of pop hits, including “It’s Gonna Be Me,” “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” and “As Long As You Love Me.” So, Fatone’s casting of Lance Du Bois in “& Juliet” means the founding NSYNC member will be belting songs by his own boy band and rival group Backstreet Boys.

Fatone will begin performances on Jan. 21 for a limited nine-week engagement through March 16. He’s taking over the role from original cast member Paulo Szot. Fatone made his Broadway debut in 2002 as Mark Cohen in “Rent” and later played Seymour in “Little Shop of Horrors” in 2004.

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“I’m excited that I’ll be joining the cast of & Juliet!,” Fatone said. “I can’t wait to get out there and sing Max Martin’s amazing songs — his hits have shaped so much of pop music. And yes, I know I’ll even be singing a couple of Backstreet Boys songs. Even though my loyalty remains with NSYNC, they still have bangers.”

TikTok star Charli D’Amelio recently joined the show as ensemble member Charmian, but her stint ends on Jan. 19, so she won’t overlap with Fatone.

“& Juliet” opened on Broadway in 2022 at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre and received nine Tony nominations, including one for best musical. It riffs on “Romeo & Juliet,” wondering what would happen if Juliet didn’t stab herself with Romeo’s dagger and join him in death. Martin’s anthems of Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone,” Britney Spears’ “I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman” and “Overprotected,” Katy Perry’s “Roar” and Demi Lovato’s “Confident” also help to score Juliet’s new lease on life.