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Blake Lively's thoughtful birthday gift to Ryan Reynolds: A family night out at Broadway musical ‘& Juliet’, Complete with a backstage meet-and-greet with the actors.

Blake Lively celebrated Ryan Reynolds's 48th birthday spectacularly by surprising him with tickets to the Broadway musical ‘& Juliet’. On October 23, Blake and Ryan along with their three kids went out in New York City's Stephen Sondheim Theater to watch the Tony-nominated show to celebrate his special day.

According to People, this was Lively’s idea. An insider who attended the show said that Lively, of It, Ends With Us fame, responded that it was quite a dilemma what to give Reynolds, who “has everything.” And, consequently, the Broadway trip proved the perfect solution.

Talking to the cast of the musical backstage, Lively said, “I know he loves musicals; I love musicals; the kids love musicals. So it felt like the right choice.”, the source noted. The Broadway show, & Juliet, is a retelling of the traditional Shakespearean heroine Juliet, only with a twist: she is shown to have survived and to have a new life.

Written by Emmy-winner David West Read, known best for Schitt's Creek, the musical enchants audiences with an upbeat storyline and a pop-fueled soundtrack. Hits like Baby One More Time by Britney Spears, Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson, Can't Stop the Feeling by Justin Timberlake, Teenage Dream by Katy Perry, and I Want It That Way by the Backstreet Boys bring new life to the story.

The family reportedly enjoyed every moment of the show. Lively, in particular, was amazed at how great the taste of the playlist for the show and the quality in general were. Her kids, the insider claimed, were more excited than she ever imagined, so excited that they wanted to return the very next day. According to the source, Reynolds and Lively intended to quietly leave but decided that they had to come out and greet the cast after the show.

Afterwards, the Lively-Reynolds met the stars of the ensemble including Ben Jackson Walker, Drew Gehling, Maya Boyd, Tiernan Tunnicliffe, Paulo Szot, Philippe Arroyo, and Justin David Sullivan. Reynolds is said to be very passionate about musicals, and Lively's thoughtful gesture seemed to have been appreciated by him. The Broadway outing that the couple planned to celebrate a special moment in the family stands testament to how important art can be for a couple.

& Juliet won over audiences with its inventive plot and hit-filled soundtrack while the audiences fell in love with the fresh version of Romeo and Juliet. The unique take gave viewers a new spin on a famous tale, blending the themes of Shakespeare with pop culture so that it would resonate well with all kinds of audiences.