Moulin Rouge! (musical)

Moulin Rouge! (musical)
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Name	Moulin Rouge! (musical)
Music	Justin Levine
Book	John Logan
Basis	Moulin Rouge! by Baz Luhrmann
Awards	Tony Award for Best Musical

Moulin Rouge! (musical) is a stage musical with a book by John Logan, music supervision, orchestrations, and arrangements by Justin Levine, and directed by Alex Timbers. The musical is based on the 2001 film of the same name directed by Baz Luhrmann, which was inspired by the Moulin Rouge in Paris, France, and features music from David Bowie, Elton John, Queen (band), and Lady Gaga. The show premiered at the Colonial Theatre (Boston) in Boston, Massachusetts, and later opened on Broadway at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre with a cast including Aaron Tveit as Christian, Karen Olivo as Satine, and Danny Burstein as Harold Zidler.

Background

The musical is set in the late 19th century in Montmartre, Paris, and features a range of characters, including Toulouse-Lautrec, Duke de Monroth, and Nini Legs-in-the-Air. The story is a tragic love story inspired by Giuseppe Verdi's La Traviata and Orpheus and Eurydice from Greek mythology. The show's creative team includes Catherine Zuber as costume designer, Derek McLane as set designer, and Justin Townsend as lighting designer, who have all worked on numerous Broadway and West End productions, including The Book of Mormon, The Producers (musical), and Mary Poppins (musical). The musical's choreographer, Sonya Tayeh, has worked with companies such as Martha Graham Dance Company and New York City Ballet.

Production History

The musical premiered at the Colonial Theatre (Boston) in Boston, Massachusetts, on July 10, 2018, and ran until August 19, 2018. The show then opened on Broadway at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on July 25, 2019, with previews starting on June 28, 2019. The Broadway production features a cast including Aaron Tveit as Christian, Karen Olivo as Satine, and Danny Burstein as Harold Zidler, and has been nominated for numerous awards, including the Tony Award for Best Musical, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical, and Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Broadway Musical. The show has also been produced in the West End at the Piccadilly Theatre in London, with a cast including Jamie Bogyo as Christian and Liisi LaFontaine as Satine, and has been nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical.

Music

The musical features a range of music from the past and present, including songs by David Bowie, Elton John, Queen (band), and Lady Gaga. The show's music supervision, orchestrations, and arrangements are by Justin Levine, who has worked on numerous Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, including Here Lies Jenny and On the Town (musical). The musical's score also features music from The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and Rihanna, among others. The show's cast album was released on August 30, 2019, and features performances by the Broadway cast, including Aaron Tveit, Karen Olivo, and Danny Burstein.

Characters

The musical features a range of characters, including Christian, a young English writer; Satine, the Moulin Rouge's star courtesan; Harold Zidler, the Moulin Rouge's owner; and Duke de Monroth, a wealthy and powerful nobleman. The show also features a range of supporting characters, including Toulouse-Lautrec, Nini Legs-in-the-Air, and Santiago. The characters are inspired by those in the 2001 film of the same name, which was directed by Baz Luhrmann and starred Nicole Kidman as Satine and Ewan McGregor as Christian.

Reception

The musical has received widespread critical acclaim, with many praising its direction, choreography, and performances. The show has been nominated for numerous awards, including the Tony Award for Best Musical, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical, and Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Broadway Musical. The show has also been a commercial success, with the Broadway production grossing over $100 million in its first year. The show has been praised by critics such as Ben Brantley of The New York Times, Terry Teachout of The Wall Street Journal, and Peter Marks of The Washington Post.

Adaptations

The musical is based on the 2001 film of the same name, which was directed by Baz Luhrmann and starred Nicole Kidman as Satine and Ewan McGregor as Christian. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $179 million worldwide and receiving numerous award nominations, including the Academy Award for Best Picture and the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. The musical has also been adapted into a cast album, which was released on August 30, 2019, and features performances by the Broadway cast, including Aaron Tveit, Karen Olivo, and Danny Burstein. The show has also been adapted into a West End production, which opened at the Piccadilly Theatre in London on January 12, 2022.