rattleNwoolypenguin said: "What a cool idea for a show.
Just why not an original score?"
Because the point--and genesis--of the show was to use the Max Martin catalog.
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Interview-How-JULIET-Scribe-David-West-Read-Made-A-Shakespearean-Heroine-for-Today-20221122
How did you become involved in & Juliet and where did the writing process begin for you? Outside of Shakespeare's play was there any other research you had to do to bring this story to life?
In January 2016, I was asked if I wanted to come up with a concept for a new musical based on the catalogue of Max Martin. I'd recently concussed myself on a kitchen cabinet, so I was lying in the dark, with a playlist of Max's music keeping me company, and I started circling around the themes of young love and heartbreak. It felt like, if we were going to reinvent and repurpose Max's music, it would be fun to also reinterpret a classic story, which led me to Romeo & Juliet. I re-read the play, and other Shakespeare comedies and tragedies (no histories, thank you), as well as a few Shakespeare biographies, which are both fascinating and maddening since no one can agree on anything. I also went to see Backstreet Boys, Justin Timberlake, and Taylor Swift concerts, which were the highlights of my research (and life?).