CCM alumnus Michael Canu shares experience as Romeo in '& Juliet'
Musical theatre grad returns to Cincinnati in national tour of reimagined Shakespearean hit
Story by CCM Graduate Assistant Kierra Mykel
The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) celebrates alumnus Michael Canu (BFA Musical Theatre, '20), who stars as Romeo in the national tour of "& Juliet." Canu was recently featured on Local 12 News, where he shared his experience with the groundbreaking production and what it means to perform in his hometown.
Michael Canu speaks with Sheila Gray on Local 12 news.
Canu, a proud graduate of CCM's renowned Musical Theatre program, credits his time at the conservatory for preparing him to take on such a demanding and joyful role. His return to Cincinnati is a testament to the program's continued legacy of excellence and influence on Broadway stages nationwide.
"& Juliet is such a fun, high-energy show that turns a classic story on its head," Canu shared in the interview. "It's a full-circle moment to bring this story to life on the Cincinnati stage where my journey began."
The hit Broadway musical asks the question: What if Juliet didn't die? Set to a soundtrack of iconic pop anthems by songwriter Max Martin, the show follows Juliet as she writes her story full of humor, heart and empowerment. Learn more about & Juliet's national tour.
Featured image at the top: A production image from Broadway's & Juliet. Photo by Matthew Murphy.
Kierra Mykel
CCM Graduate Assistant, Marketing + Communications
Kierra Mykel is a graduate student studying Arts Administration at CCM. Kierra is a graduate of Baldwin Wallace University and recently studied abroad in London to learn more about their theatre history and the performing arts industry.
Additional Contacts
Curt Whitacre | Director of Marketing/Communications | UC College-Conservatory of Music
whitaccp@ucmail.uc.edu | 513-556-2683
Related Stories
Cincinnati a top destination for street art, museums
February 27, 2026
Discover why Cincinnati is a top destination for street art and museums, ranked among USA Today’s 10Best for 2026. Explore how University of Cincinnati research shows public art boosts community vitality, and find the best things to do near UC’s campus for students and visitors alike.
'Paradigm-shifting' study confirms effectiveness of long-acting HIV treatment
February 26, 2026
The results of a clinical trial involving the University of Cincinnati, recently published in The New England Journal of Medicine, show people failing HIV treatments with oral medications were able to be treated successfully using injections.
How do horses whinny?
February 26, 2026
A horse makes the low-pitched part of its whinny by vibrating its vocal cords — similar to how humans speak and sing — and the high-pitched part by whistling with its voice box, according to a new paper published in the journal Current Biology and featured in Smithsonian magazine.