broadway gen z john proctor romeo juliet.

“John Proctor is the Villain” is about high schoolers studying “The Crucible” as the #MeToo movement arrives in their Georgia town. It earned seven Tony nominations, the most of any this season. It’s among a group of Broadway shows that have centered the stories of young people and attracted audiences to match. Producers reported that Sam Gold’s take on “Romeo + Juliet,” nominated for best revival of a play, drew the youngest ticket-buying audiences recorded on Broadway. The shows share some DNA: pop music, Hollywood stars with established fanbases and stories that reflect the complexity of young adulthood.