Anthony Gargiula is taking his viral music career from social media to Broadway.

The singer-songwriter and digital creator will make his Broadway debut in the hit musical & Juliet, joining the production as François from September 15 through December 6. He succeeds Nathan Levy, whose final performance is scheduled for September 6.

For Gargiula, the moment carries special personal meaning. His fascination with Broadway began at the age of seven, when he saw Beauty and the Beast starring Donny Osmond. Nearly two decades later, the 27-year-old performer is stepping onto a Broadway stage himself — turning a childhood dream into a full-circle career milestone.

From viral kitchen performances to Broadway

Gargiula has built an audience of more than 8 million followers through his “Kitchen Singing Series,” created with Jonathan Tilkin. The videos feature close-harmony performances with artists including Lizzo, Reba McEntire, Teddy Swims, Tori Kelly, Ne-Yo, Kristen Bell and Leslie Odom Jr.

The series has generated more than 3 billion views, making Gargiula one of the most visible music creators to emerge from social media in recent years. He and Tilkin also co-host the podcast Counter Melodies, which takes listeners behind the scenes of their musical collaborations.

His Broadway debut now represents a shift from short-form digital performances to the discipline of live theatre, where he will perform eight shows each week.

A pop-powered reinvention of Shakespeare

“& Juliet” reimagines Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet by asking what might happen if Juliet chose to continue living after Romeo rather than follow the original tragedy.

Written by Emmy winner David West Read, the musical is built around songs by producer and songwriter Max Martin. Its soundtrack includes pop hits associated with Britney Spears, Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, Bon Jovi, Demi Lovato, Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC.

For Gargiula, one particular number brings another layer of nostalgia. In the show, he will perform Backstreet Boys’ “Everybody,” a song he previously sang during his professional debut with Jimmy Fallon’s Ragtime Gals at Universal Orlando.

A story about identity and taking chances

Beyond the music, Gargiula has said he was drawn to the production’s message of self-acceptance, courage and finding joy in unexpected places.

That theme feels closely aligned with his own career. His journey has moved through television, original music, viral content, podcasting and now Broadway — without following a conventional route.

He first gained national attention as a child performer through appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and Today. In later years, he competed on The Four, appeared on I Can See Your Voice and released original music, including the Billboard gospel chart-topper “Constant” with Maverick City Music and Jordin Sparks. In 2026, he also joined American Idol as an industry expert.

Broadway welcomes a digital-era performer

Since opening on Broadway in November 2022, & Juliet has become one of the theatre district’s most popular productions. It received nine Tony Award nominations in 2023, including Best Musical, and has expanded internationally across nine countries and four continents.

Gargiula joins a cast that includes Gianna Harris as Juliet, Paulo Szot and Joey Fatone as Lance, Alison Luff as Anne, Corey Mach as Shakespeare, Michael Iván Carrier as May, Chrissy Metz as Angélique and Liam Pearce as Romeo.

For WOW Magazine, Gargiula’s debut reflects a wider change in entertainment. Social platforms are no longer simply launching spaces for emerging talent; they are becoming pathways into traditional institutions such as Broadway.

From kitchen-counter harmonies to one of New York’s biggest stages, Anthony Gargiula’s next chapter proves that a digital audience can become the beginning of a much larger performance story.