Laurie Hernandez, the 25-year-old Olympic gold medal winner, is set to make her Broadway debut in '& Juliet' on March 17, starring as Charmion.
## What's next for Laurie Hernandez?
She will graduate from NYU with a degree in drama in May.
Laurie Hernandez grew up dancing and won season 23 of 'Dancing with the Stars' in 2016.
She recalls taking ballet at a young age and dancing salsa with her family at home.
## Why '& Juliet'?
The Tony-nominated musical reimagines one of William Shakespeare's most famous stories, telling a version of what might happen if Juliet lived.
Laurie Hernandez appreciates the show's modern take on the classic tale and its tackling of queer themes.
She chose to sing “Driver’s License” by Olivia Rodrigo for her audition.
## The audition process
Laurie Hernandez had to show off both her dancing and singing chops for the audition.
She was nervous but thinks it went okay.
As a former 'theater kid,' being on Broadway is a dream come true for Laurie Hernandez.
She decided to study drama in college after enrolling in NYU.
Her mother was proud when she completed her last college course in January.
Laurie Hernandez jumped into rehearsals after returning from Milan, where she served as an official content creator for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
She will make her debut in '& Juliet' on March 17, starring as Charmion.
The show features a soundtrack of Max Martin's biggest hits, including 'Since U Been Gone,' 'Roar,' 'I Want It That Way,' and 'Confident.'
Laurie Hernandez is excited to be a part of the show and its joyful message.
She loves the idea of 'What if we didn't kill her off? What if she got to live out her teenage years?'
The show tackles a lot of queer themes, which resonates with Laurie Hernandez as a queer person herself.
She thinks the show is a great base to kick things off from.
Laurie Hernandez is gearing up to graduate from NYU with a major in drama and minor in creative writing.
Her mother was sobbing when she told her she finished her last class.
Laurie Hernandez is ready to take on her new role in '& Juliet' and make her Broadway debut.