'NSYNC's Joey Fatone joining Broadway's '& Juliet' in January

Joey Fatone had better brush up on his Shakespeare. The onetime member of 'NSYNC will join the cast of the Broadway smash "& Juliet" beginning Jan. 21, producers announced Tuesday.

In the coming-of-age musical, which supposes that Juliet didn't kill herself at the end of 'Romeo and Juliet," Fatone will play Lance, the beloved of the nurse Angelique. The story is set to the beat of several pop hits by Swedish songwriter Max Martin, including "Oops ... I Did It Again," "Teenage Dream" and "Larger Than Life."

“I’m excited that I’ll be joining the cast of '& Juliet,' ” Fatone said in a statement. “I can’t wait to get out there and sing Max Martin’s amazing songs — his hits have shaped so much of pop music. And yes, I know I’ll even be singing a couple of Backstreet Boys songs. Even though my loyalty remains with *NSYNC, they still have bangers.”

"& Juliet" marks Fatone's third Broadway appearance. He previously was in "Rent" in 2002 and then starred as the timid florist Seymour in "Little Shop of Horrors" in 2004.

"SMASH" COMING TO BROADWAY "Smash," the 2012-13 NBC series about the behind-the-scenes drama in bringing a musical about Marilyn Monroe to Broadway, will at last be coming to the Great White Way. Five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman ("The Producers") will direct the show, which will begin previews on March 11 and open on April 10 at the Imperial Theatre. Rick Elise, Bob Martin and Joshua Bergasse, who choreographed the TV series, will again stage the musical numbers. A number of Broadway veterans will make up the cast including Robyn Hurder ("Moulin Rouge"), Brooks Ashmanskas ("The Prom") and Krysta Rodriguez ("Spring Awakening"). Tickets go on sale at 9:59 a.m. Friday at telecharge.com or by calling 212-239-6200.