Best friends forever! Laurie Hernandez made her Broadway debut in & Juliet at the Sondheim Theatre in New York City on March 17, and don’t be surprised if her 2016 “Final Five” Olympic teammates are in the audience.
The two-time Olympic medalist joined the show’s musical ensemble in the featured dance role of Charmion for performances through June 14, 2026, and Madison Kocian, Simone Biles, and Aly Raisman can’t wait to grab a seat.
“The moment my Broadway debut was announced, Maddie, Simone, and Aly texted our group chat to see when they could come,” Hernandez told ET.
“We haven’t landed on dates yet, but there’s been a lot of support there. It’s felt really nice.”
From the gym to the stage, some things never change, including the athlete’s pre-show mindset.
“Growing up, I had a lot of performance anxiety, so early on I had to learn so many different tools to cope with that and understand the way my brain works,” she shared.
“I gained a toolbox, so whenever I was nervous or feeling like the pressure was on, I knew what tools to turn to, and I’m using those same things for my Broadway debut.”
That routine still includes a little pre-show hype.
“When I was competing, before any competition, I’d always sit with my teammates and blast music,” she dished. “That’s what we do backstage at the theater too, so the process is actually kind of similar.”
Luckily, the author has a whole new team behind her this time.
“Everyone has been celebrating the fact that it’s my Broadway debut, and even if they’ve been in two, three, or four shows before this, their excitement about getting to do this every night is contagious,” Hernandez revealed.
“Once I have that support and energy from my peers, I’m ready to try anything I’ve never done before. … I love new environments and trying new things when I know there’s a support system there to catch me if I take a left turn.”
Of course, not everything translates from her Olympic life.
“As a gymnast, I had 11 years to train for something that was essentially only a couple minutes long,” she explained. “For & Juliet, I’ve had about three weeks to train for something that is 2.5 hours long, so I’m trying to figure out how I know when I’m ready.”
As Hernandez finds her rhythm, she’s taking care of her body.
“I’ve been using a travel-size Theragun muscle massager and that’s been changing my life,” she revealed. “It’s small enough to slip into my purse, so I’ve been able to use it to warm up and cool down. It’s literally been saving my muscles. That, and a really good moisturizer, since I’m sweating a lot more than I have in a long time.”
From there, the season 23 Dancing With the Stars winner feels ready to take the stage.
“At the end of the day, I’m so excited to get out there and keep the energy moving. … I think it’s going to be a lot of fun connecting with audiences every single night,” she spilled.
Created by David West Read, & Juliet imagines what would happen if Juliet hadn’t ended it all over Romeo and instead got a second chance at life and love on her own terms. The story comes to life through a playlist of pop songs by Max Martin, including “Since U Been Gone,” “Roar,” “I Want It That Way,” “Confident,” and more. The production is direction by Luke Sheppard, with choreography by Jennifer Weber.
RELATED CONTENT:
