& Juliet's Betsy Wolfe and Titanique's Marla Mindelle came together to honor Céline Dion on her birthday with a rendition of the Grammy winner's iconic "That's the Way It Is." It's a humorous Broadway/Off-Broadway crossover moment as the track, originally released in 1999, is featured in the pop-infused musical on Broadway. Titanique, of course, is an Off-Broadway parody musical of the James Cameron blockbuster film featuring the music of Céline Dion (with Mindelle playing the Canadian diva).
The singer, who turns 55 on March 30, released "That's the Way It Is" in 1999. Titanique did also feature "That's the Way It Is" in a previous version but they were unable to secure the rights to the song for the current production running Off-Broadway at the Daryl Roth Theatre. Watch Wolfe and Mindelle sing "That's the Way It Is" as a duet below.
& Juliet opened at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre November 17 last year, the same day it released its original Broadway cast recording. Packed with a catalog of pop songs, the musical rewrites the tragic ending of Romeo and Juliet's lovestruck teenaged heroine. Rather than committing suicide after Romeo dies, Juliet decides she would much rather stay alive. Wolfe stars as Anne Hathaway, wife of William Shakespeare and new author of Juliet's story.
Emmy winner David West Read (Schitt's Creek) penned the book. & Juliet features music from Grammy winner Max Martin, including familiar pop songs from the last three decades such as “Since U Been Gone,” “Roar,” “Baby One More Time,” “Larger Than Life,” and “Can’t Stop the Feeling."
READ: Why Stark Sands Almost Said No to & Juliet on Broadway
Titanique, the parody jukebox musical based on the iconic film Titanic, plays an extended run at Daryl Roth Theatre through September 10. Mindelle (Sister Act) stars as a disruptive Céline Dion as an omniscient narrator. The Canadian singer commandeers a tour group at the Titanic museum to tell guests her (hilarious and irreverent) version of Jack and Rose's love story.
The Off-Broadway show includes the film's famous "My Heart Will Go On," as well as "All By Myself," "To Love You More," and others to explain what really happened to and between the lovers. Titanique was co-written by Mindelle, Rousouli, and director Tye Blue, and it features music supervision, arrangements, and orchestrations by Nicholas Connell.
