Webb graduated just as the COVID-19 pandemic began shutting down theaters from coast to  coast and her career was impacted immediately.

“We didn’t get to do the Showcase in front of all of the agents and directors and industry professionals in New York City,” Webb said. “Instead, like any other musical theater program, all of our Showcase options were virtual. I was able to get an agent and that was very exciting for me. I did a virtual Showcase thinking, ‘Who knows what is going to happen?’ And I got an agent and a manager. And from then on, I had been auditioning. They were virtual auditions. And when people were able to go in person to audition, I would do in-person auditions as well.”

Being the optimistic, buoyant person that she is, Webb took it all in stride.

“Everyone in the world was in the same place,” Webb observed. “I think that during the pandemic, people really did need some sort of entertainment. Fortunately, the field I was trying to get into was still trying to move and was still able to move virtually. I don’t think I would have auditions or even job interviews if I weren’t in the arts. We did a few virtual concerts where people who knew each other and knew that all we wanted to do was sing would record ourselves singing our song and send it to one person to edit it all together and people would watch virtual concerts.”

Webb’s persistence paid off and in the spring of 2022, she landed a part in the ensemble of ‘& Juliet,’ a theatrical musing of what would have happened if Juliet hadn’t killed herself in Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo & Juliet.’

“I was auditioning for the role of Juliet and I did not get it,” Webb said. “A few months later, I received an audition request to be in the ensemble and to also understudy Juliet. I thought, ‘I was close to being Juliet and maybe I can be an ensemble and understudy.’ And so I did the audition and I forgot the entire dance in front of all of the people who were judging us. Once we wen t to the acting and singing portion of the audition, I knew that I had to put my best foot forward. I was happy to hear that I received that role, to be one of the ensemble members in this hit musical.”

Since ‘& Juliet’ was a British production that had its run in London’s The West End, it was decided to start the North American version outside of Broadway to test the market so-to-speak.

“We did that in Toronto, Canada,” Webb said. “I was one of two understudies for Juliet. I was still in ensemble. That was a beautiful experience. I learned how to understudy. I learned how to have my own perspective on the material. And I learned how to be a team player. That was the most enriching part of my life.”

While Webb is pretty, smart and talented, she is bound and determined not to become a diva. Even though she is the star, she looks at ‘& Juliet’ as a team effort with everyonme from thje cast to the ushers playing vital parts.

“When you are in a company of humans — it doesn’t matter if you are the lead ot an understudy or ensemble member who doesn’t understudy anyone or an usher or the director who stayed for a little bit and comes back every now and then — everyone who puts the show together, they are collaborating with each other,” Webb emphasized. “We’re collaborating with the crew members who make sure that we are safe and the dressers who put our clothes on us and zip us up. We collaborate with each other. I think that sometimes, there is a lot of — this is just my own perspective on the industry — spotlight put on the people who have the most lines or the most songs in a musical. Being in the ensemble, I realize that the people who did the heaviest lifting are sometimes not even seen. For instance, in the ensemble, we dance so much and it yields to sometimes people get injured. But if your lead gets injured who doesn’t dance as much as an ensemble member, it gets taken more seriously than an ensemble member’s injury. I didn’t really grasp how collaborative this art form was until I was there in the ensemble and given the opportunity to go on for the role of Juliet.”

These aren’t the thoughts of a wanna-be who wants to feel important. This comes from someone who is in the lead, but remembers her roots.

“I understand the hype when it comes to being the lead role,” Webb said. “And I guess to put it on the flip side of the coin, now being someone who is in the spotlight, whose face and name is in the article or the press for the show, I get a lot of attention that I am just not used to. And so I see why sometimes, there is a stigma about a lead that they are a diva. Sometimes it can seem isolating and self-aggrandizing. But the collaboration is the same. Because I was an ensemble member, I know how to hang out and talk to and be friends with my ensemble members in this company. I know how to collaborate with the dresser who is only doing my costumes for me because I used to do my own costumes. It’s been a beautiful journey to see both sides of leading and understudying. It’s a lovely, human perspective that I have been able to gain.”

And Webb has a support system that won’t let her get the big head.

“I tell my family if I ever get to a point where my head is getting too big, please just tell me,” Webb said with a smile. “We’re all human. Sometimes you’ll say something and won’t even realize that it is entitled. I tell my family members and my closest friends, ‘Humble me if I need to be humbled. Tell me if I am being a diva.’ I think that will also keep you grounded, in your community as well as your job.”

‘& Juliet’ uses a renown story — who doesn’t know what happens at the end of Romeo & Juliet — and applies it to contemporary life.

“‘& Juliet’ is a remix of Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare,” Webb said. “It is told through the lens of William Shakespeare and his wife, Anne Hathaway. This is not the actress. Her name actually was Anne Hathaway. They’re rewriting Romeo & Juliet. Anne says, ‘I don’t really like the way that you’ve written your play. Can I rewrite it?’ She asks so nicely that he says yes. She starts putting in Brittany Spears songs. Juliet’s story is completely rewritten as if she does not decide to end it all just because Romeo did. Juliet sees her husband dead and decides to out the dagger down. She sings a Brittany Spears song about it. This is definitely a comedy. There isn’t much Shakespeare in it. She goes on a trip and runs away from her family and her very scary mom and dad. Then she goes on a trip to find herself. She spends some time with her friends and learns so much about herself. All of the drama comes up in the second act. You’re just going to have to see the rest to see what happens. But it is a happy ending. It’s not a tragedy.”

And Webb loves her character.

“What I enjoy most about Juliet in ‘& Juliet’ is that she is free and she is inspiring herself as she goes,” Webb observed. “She’s looking to find answers for life problems from her friends and from the stars. But then she finds a lot of those answers in herself. That is very unique storytelling when it comes to the role of Juliet. This is an empowering piece for many people, for women specifically, but also for other folks in the community. It’s really nice to see multiple live stories told on stage.”

‘& Juliet’ should be fun fopr people of all ages because it uses well-known contemporary music sung live by the cast.

“We perform a lot of covers during the play,” Webb said. “It’s so fun. All of the songs are recognizable. The idea is that when people leave the show, they leave humming one or two of the songs, connecting with songs that were very nostalgic to them. Every now and then, we do get an audience when they sing along with us. But a lot of times, they are just into the story. They love how their songs melt into the story in a clever way. And there is one musical number that was written specifically for ‘& Juliet.’ But Jesse James, a famous British singer, did a cover of it because they did it our of The West End first.”

Webb promises a good time for all if they come out for ‘& Juliet.’

“If you are looking to escape from the world circumstances, if you’re looking to see a lot of colors, come see ‘& Juliet,’” Webb pledged. “If you want to leave feeling empowered, come see ‘& Juliet.’ Honestly, bring everybody, — young people, old people, all different kinds of colors and all genders — to see ‘& Juliet’ and leave with a great smile on their faces.”

Come out to see ‘& Juliet’ and learn how Juliet becomes the better half.