Rachel Zegler and Jack Antonoff Give ‘Romeo + Juliet’ a Modern Pop Spin on ‘Man of the House’

Rachel Zegler and Jack Antonoff have shared a new collaboration, “Man of the House,” from the new Broadway production Romeo + Juliet. 

The latest revival of the classic Shakespeare tragedy stars Zegler as Juliet and Kit Connor as Romeo. And while it’s not an out-and-out musical, it does feature a few new songs from Antonoff. “Man of the House” is the first offering from the show and was co-written with singer-songwriter Ryan Beatty.

“Man of the House” certainly does boast that distinct Antonoff sound: A swooning ballad laced with somber keys and atmospheric flourishes that buoy Zegler’s rising vocals. “How sweet, you’re the man of the house to me,” she sings, “I watch you from the window, and I see/The good in you, the good in me/That’s who you are, and what I need/It’s what I need.” 

“Man of the House” was released on Antonoff’s label, Shadow of the City, an imprint of Dirty Hit Records. It’s unclear yet if the full soundtrack and score will get an official release.

The song also arrives after the premiere of Romeo + Juliet last night, Oct. 24, at the Circle in the Square Theatre. The show was directed by Tony winner Sam Gold and choreographed by Tony winner Sonya Tayeh. It’s set to run through Feb. 16, 2025.

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For Antonoff, Romeo + Juliet marks his first time making music for a Broadway show. He has worked on movie and TV soundtracks in the past, including the 2018 film Love, Simon, the 2022 animated film Minions: The Rise of Gru, and Apple TV+’s recent show, The New Look. 

Romeo + Juliet marks Zegler’s Broadway debut, too — and it’s a fitting role for her considering she made her film debut in Steven Spielberg’s 2021 remake of the classic Romeo and Juliet-inspired musical, West Side Story. Zegler has two upcoming film roles as well, including a turn in Kyle Mooney’s comedy Y2K, and a voice role in the Netflix animated musical, Spellbound.