5 Must-See Highlights At The GRAMMY Museum’s ‘& Juliet: The Music Of Max Martin And Friends’ Exhibit

When teen popstars like Britney Spears, *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys broke through in the late '90s, one producer/songwriter made it all possible: Max Martin. The Swedish hitmaker, responsible for era-defining songs like "Oops!... I Did It Again," "It's Gonna Be Me" and "I Want It That Way," built on his country's tradition of melody-rich dance-pop to usher in a bold new wave of global pop stardom — powered by dynamic production and unforgettable hooks.

With five GRAMMY wins, 25 GRAMMY nominations, and countless hits spanning more than three decades — including chart-topping work with GRAMMY-winning and -nominated artists like Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, and Katy Perry — Martin's influence still echoes across radio, streaming platforms, and, since 2019, musical theater.

"& Juliet," the Max Martin-inspired jukebox musical created by "Schitt's Creek" writer and executive producer David West Read, reinvents Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" with one key twist: Juliet lives. Featuring blended and reimagined versions of Martin's biggest hits adapted for the stage, the Tony-nominated musical has become a hit in its own right since premiering in 2019.

Now, the GRAMMY Museum in downtown Los Angeles is honoring both Martin's legacy and the impact of "& Juliet" in a new exhibit, & Juliet: The Music of Max Martin and Friends, which is on view now through Monday, Oct. 27. The exhibit features behind-the-scenes insights, original props from the musical, and rare memorabilia from Martin's storied career. For fans looking to experience the musical in person, "& Juliet" is hosting a summer run at Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles from Aug. 13 through Sept. 7.

Here are five must-see highlights from the GRAMMY Museum's & Juliet: The Music of Max Martin and Friends exhibit.

Learn more about and buy tickets for & Juliet: The Music of Max Martin and Friends.

Max Martin Helped Make Britney Spears Pop Royalty

From the moment she breathed, "Oh, baby, baby" on her 1998 debut single, "...Baby One More Time," Britney Spears was destined for pop stardom. While the then-teenager delivered her signature breathy vocals, Martin shaped the song's piano-stabbed production (alongside Rami Yacoub) and aching lyrics. It became a global smash, kicking off a long-running creative partnership between Spears and Martin that produced some of her biggest hits, including "Oops!... I Did It Again" and "Stronger." Crowned the "Princess of Pop," Spears is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, so it's fitting that she's featured in an exhibit honoring Martin's legacy.

Two of her original tour outfits greet visitors at the gallery entrance: a pink-and-white vinyl look from her 1999 debut headlining tour and a crystal-studded jumpsuit from her 2001-2002 Dream Within a Dream tour.

Britney Spears' original tour outfits from her 1999 debut headlining tour (R) and her 2001-2002 Dream Within a Dream tour (L). | Photo: Rebecca Sapp

"& Juliet" Was Years In The Making … And Martin Was There For Every Step

Past Spears' outfits, the exhibit is a booth located near the back of the gallery. Eye-catching items, including a playbill from the musical's Broadway run, script pages and sheet music, decorate the outer walls, accompanied by context labels. On the inside, blown-up performance photos line the walls, and a behind-the-scenes video plays from a screen with intimate seating.

According to the video, Martin began taking musical pitches in 2016, seeking an unconventional vehicle for his catalog — something beyond the standard popstar story. Read, combing through hundreds of his songs, had an idea: Since so many of Martin's songs center on young love and heartbreak, why not use them to rewrite one of history's most famous love stories of all time? By flipping the play's ending, the team found a way to let the music guide the narrative into something cohesive and emotionally impactful.

Martin was hands-on throughout the creative process, reviewing song selections, sitting in on rehearsals, and encouraging the cast to push the boundaries of his work. That collaborative ethos is what's made him such an enduring pop force and a key player in the sound of the "& Juliet" musical.

His Songs Weren't Rewritten For Broadway — They Were Reimagined

One of the musical's most surprising aspects is that Martin's songs remain lyrically intact. Instead, it's the arrangement and narrative context in which they're played that make them sound radically different.

Spears' "...Baby One More Time" is synonymous with its iconic music video. But in the musical, the song is stripped of its youthful visuals and slowed to a ballad, becoming a haunting lament as Juliet mourns Romeo's death. In another scene, Shakespeare and his wife argue through the Backstreet Boys' "I Want It That Way."

Some of Martin's songs were even mashed up, thanks to music supervisor and arranger Bill Sherman ("Hamilton," "In The Heights"). Sheet music on display shows how songs like Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" merge with Ariana Grande's "Break Free," and how Grande's "Problem" blends with The Weeknd's "Can't Feel My Face" — pairings that drive the narrative by creating a dialogue between the songs themselves and the characters who sing them.

The Show's Genre-Bending Style Mirrors Martin's Own

Part of Martin's pop wizardry is rooted in his skill at borrowing from multiple genres to make something new. This superpower sensibility is enmeshed in all parts of the "& Juliet" production.

In the behind-the-scenes video, Paloma Young, a costume designer for the musical, explains her creative process, describing the fashion as a mix of Elizabethan/Georgian and Y2K styles: Think ruffled collars and trim, denim vests, lace-up corseted dresses, sneakers, and bomber jackets with puff sleeves. For example, check out Romeo's embellished leather jacket (Young's take on an Elizabethan doublet, or fitted jacket) mounted in a case below the initial sketch, its painted roses and strategically placed safety pins combining streetwear edge with Renaissance motifs. Nearby, an encased set of studded trucker hats takes two Y2K trends (snakeskin patterns and metallic sheen) back in time with chainmail panels and monogrammed initials in Old English lettering. The video, which also shows performance clips from the musical, features input from "& Juliet" choreographer Jennifer Weber, who shares that she created her dance numbers by blending hip-hop, K-pop and Broadway elements.

Romeo's leather jacket from the GRAMMY Museum's '& Juliet: The Music Of Max Martin And Friends' exhibit. | Photo: Rebecca Sapp

Visitors Can Play Hitmaker, Too

The & Juliet exhibit doesn't end with the Museum's fourth-floor display. On the second floor's Sonic Playground, visitors can step into the Electric Forest, an immersive installation where anyone, regardless of musical skill, can try their hand at mixing and remixing. Using an interactive set of colorful light columns, guests can control the audio levels and dynamics of various instrument loops — including vocals from "& Juliet" — to shape a custom song. It might not top the charts, but it's about fun and creativity, reflecting the spirit that keeps pop pushing forward.